CBI arrests 3 in Rs 20 lakh bribery case
Chandigarh: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three individuals, including two private intermediaries and one associate, in connection with a Rs 20 lakh bribery case involving Punjab Vigilance officials.
The case was registered following a complaint by a Punjab State Tax Officer, who alleged that Vikas alias Vicky Goyal and his son, Raghav Goyal, demanded Rs 20 lakh in illegal gratification to secure closure of a pending vigilance complaint. The accused allegedly acted as intermediaries for senior vigilance officials, including OP Rana, Reader to the DG of Vigilance, Punjab, who reportedly assured the complainant that the matter could be resolved upon payment.
Investigations revealed that the demanded bribe was negotiated down to Rs 13 lakh along with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 mobile phone for OP Rana. During a trap operation on 11 May 2026 in Chandigarh, Ankit Wadhwa, an associate of the accused, was caught while accepting the bribe and the mobile phone.
Raghav Goyal, Vikas Goyal, and OP Rana initially fled the scene but were later apprehended near Ambala, along with two gunmen. OP Rana remains at large, and efforts are ongoing to arrest him.
Searches at the residences of the accused in Malout and Chandigarh led to the recovery of Rs 9 lakh in cash and incriminating documents. Investigations also indicate the exchange of sensitive information about pending vigilance matters between OP Rana and the private accused.
The role of Punjab Police gunmen, who were reportedly attached to the private accused and carried AK-47 rifles, is also being examined. The arrested accused will be presented before the designated court in Chandigarh. The investigation into the wider conspiracy and potential involvement of other individuals is ongoing.
