Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], May 25 (HBTV): The Vigilance department has arrested a District Sainik Welfare Officer in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar district for allegedly accepting a bribe of INR 50,000, officials said on Sunday.

The accused has been identified as a retired Colonel.

A complaint lodged via the 1064 toll-free number alleged that a retired soldier was seeking service extension-related assistance from the District Sainik Welfare Department. The accused official had reportedly demanded a bribe of INR 50,000 in return for facilitating the work.

Acting on the complaint, a vigilance team laid a trap. On May 24, the official — a resident of Rampur village in Kapkot tehsil and a retired army officer from Bageshwar — was apprehended while accepting the bribe amount.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the accused has been arrested.

According to a government statement, the action reflects the state’s ongoing efforts to curb corruption under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

'The Dhami-led government has arrested 150 individuals on corruption charges in the last three years, demonstrating effective action on the ground. This unprecedented action has instilled new confidence among the people,' the release said.

CM Dhami reiterated that a corruption-free Uttarakhand remains his top priority. Owing to the state’s zero-tolerance policy and the vigilance department’s swift actions, government officers and employees have become more cautious in their conduct.

(ANI)