Chandigarh, Jan 13: Legal proceedings against corrupt officials in Punjab reached a new stage this week with the arrest and remand of a former Superintendent Grade-2 in Gurdaspur. The arrest followed the registration of FIR No. 1/2026 by the Vigilance Bureau’s Amritsar Range, marking the latest development in a long-term investigation into the Finance Department’s Treasury and Accounts Branch.
The accused was taken into custody on January 11, 2026, and appeared before the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Gurdaspur on January 12. The court granted a one-day police remand to facilitate further interrogation. This legal action follows a departmental inquiry that had already led to the official’s dismissal from government service in late 2025.
“Wherever corruption comes to light, immediate and strict action will be taken, regardless of the official’s position,” Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said. He noted that the case has been taken to its logical conclusion to maintain the integrity of public service.
The investigation has widened significantly since it began in 2022. Minister Cheema mentioned that during the scrutiny of the dismissed official’s records, investigators uncovered a network of suspicious transactions that linked back to nearly two dozen other employees. He noted that these findings were vetted by an impartial inquiry conducted by a retired judge before the department moved forward with disciplinary measures.
The Finance Minister said that the priority of the current administration remains building an honest and trustworthy system. He mentioned that the government’s resolve is to ensure that all public servants operate with accountability, and that the prosecution of high-ranking officials serves as an exemplary deterrent for others in the department.
