TNNLudhiana: The Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) Tuesday arrested a recovery agent allegedly while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a garment factory owner in Ludhiana.The accused, Ravneet Singh, was working with a private recovery agency. He was apprehended during a trap laid by the VB following a complaint by a resident of Kabir Nagar, Basti Jodhewal.Vigilance sleuths said the complainant had availed a cash credit loan of Rs 40 lakh from IDBI Bank for his garment unit. As the loan account turned irregular, the matter is currently pending before the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT), Chandigarh.The VB alleged that on June 25, Ravneet Singh approached the complainant, falsely introducing himself as an employee of Tehsil East, Ludhiana, and served him a notice. He allegedly claimed that the bank would take possession of the property on June 28 and demanded Rs 60,000 to delay the process by three months and facilitate a settlement.Officials said the accused had already accepted Rs 20,000 and was demanding a second instalment of Rs 10,000. The complainant reportedly recorded the conversation and approached the vigilance bureau.Acting on the complaint, a VB team laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while accepting Rs 10,000 in the presence of official witnesses.During investigation, vigilance officials found that Ravneet Singh was not a Tehsil East employee but worked as a recovery agent with a private firm. The bureau said the role of any bank or revenue officials, if found, would be examined during the probe.A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at the VB police station in Ludhiana and further investigation is under way.
