Punjab sees growing trend of digital bribes

As the world adapts to digital payments, it seems the corrupt too don’t want to be left behind. The Punjab vigilance bureau is seeing a growing trend of government officials taking bribes through digital payment apps, including Google Pay, Phone Pe, and Paytm etc, something that ends up being a self-incriminating move.

Vigilance sleuths had recently caught a power corporation sub-divisional officer, identified as Mohan Lal, and a lineman for taking bribe of ₹34,000 through Google-Pay in lieu of not disconnecting the electricity connection of a Ludhiana resident. While they were caught red-handed with ₹5,000 bribe money, investigations revealed that the duo had taken ₹34,000 via the digital mode.

Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s chief director Varinder Kumar said that at least a dozen such cases have come to the fore off late. “But this only makes our job easier.