The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has arrested two officials in Barnala district for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 50,000, the Bureau said in Chandigarh on Friday, November 6. Those arrested are Manpreet Singh, Manager at Pungrain — the Punjab State Grains Procurement Corporation — and Davinder Kaur, Inspector and in-charge of Barnala Mandi. The arrests were announced by an official spokesperson of the Vigilance Bureau as part of its ongoing drive against corruption in the state. Both outlets reporting the Bureau's statement carried the same names, amount and case details.

Source: Bright Punjab Express, Nov 6, 2026

According to the Bureau, the case began with a complaint by a resident of Lakhi Colony in Barnala who runs a rice sheller. The complainant alleged that Manpreet Singh and Davinder Kaur demanded Rs 50,000 in illegal gratification for increasing the paddy allotment to his rice sheller in line with its installed milling capacity. The demand is an allegation made in the complaint, as stated by the Bureau; it has not been proved in court.

Source: Onnline TV, Nov 6, 2026

The Bureau said the complainant, unwilling to pay the alleged bribe, approached the Vigilance Bureau's Patiala Range and lodged a formal complaint. Acting on that complaint, Vigilance Bureau teams arrested both accused for allegedly demanding the bribe money, the spokesperson said.

A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against both accused at the Vigilance Bureau Police Station in Patiala, and further investigation into the case is under progress, the Bureau said. The two arrested officials have not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations against them will be tested in court.