Chandigarh: Bathinda Rural MLA Amit Rattan’s PA Risham Garg has been arrested by the Vigilance for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 4 lakh. Risham Garg is a resident of Samana. Meanwhile, the MLA has refused to accept Risham Garg as his PA. He was arrested on the basis of a complaint filed by Pritpal Kumar, husband of Sarpanch Seema Rani of village Ghudda.
Police said that the sarpanch and her husband approached the VB and informed that the PA was demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh for the release of government grant of Rs 25 lakh received by gram panchayat Ghudda through block samiti under 15th Finance Commission from BDPO.
He is forced to take Rs. 50,000 from her as the first instalment. In this regard, Seema Rani approached the DGP of the Vigilance Bureau.
They were then asked to contact Bathinda.
In this case, Rs 50,000 was given on February 10. After the deal was finalised, the remaining Rs 4 lakh was announced. Today, when MLA Amit Ratan got out of the vehicle in the circuit house and started meeting the people, his PA Risham Garg grabbed the bribe amount of Rs 4 lakh and kept it in the vehicle.
Meanwhile, the Vigilance arrested Risham Garg red-handed in the presence of official witnesses while he also tried to escape.
On this occasion, MLA Amit Ratan Kotfatta was detained by vigilance officials at circuit house. MLA Amit Rattan, PA Risham Garg, along with the prosecution witness, were surrounded by the circuit house. Amit Ratan was questioned by the authorities for several hours and the atmosphere turned tense.
BJP district president Saroop Chand Singla, Ashok Bharti and Mohan Lal Garg, who reached the spot, along with their supporters raised slogans against the Punjab government. They kept demanding the arrest of the MLA.
A case has been registered against Risham Garg at VB police station Bathinda and further action has been initiated. Meanwhile, former Union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has launched a scathing attack on the AAP government and said, “Amit Rattan was given the ticket after he was expelled from the SAD on charges of corruption.”