Batala: A late-night operation by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Friday led to the arrest of Batala SDM-cum-Municipal Corporation Commissioner Vikramjeet Singh Panthey, who was allegedly caught with ₹14 lakh in unaccounted cash at his official residence.
The raid began shortly after 10 pm, when vigilance officials arrived in three vehicles and sealed the premises. The search continued past midnight, drawing attention from nearby residents and triggering a wave of messages, calls, and speculation across the city.
For months, murmurs about corruption within the Municipal Corporation had been circulating. Several locals and councillors had claimed that official work was often delayed unless “extra amounts” were paid.
One councillor, reacting to the arrest, said that speaking against the Commissioner had never been easy.
“Whenever we tried to raise corruption issues in the House meetings, he shut us down. He always said—‘Don’t talk about such matters here. Meet me later.’ Everyone knew what that meant.”
According to sources, the commissioner allegedly demanded cuts from nearly every tender issued by the corporation. Some employees believed that approvals and financial clearances were deliberately stalled to create pressure on contractors.
The arrest stems from a formal complaint filed by Amarpal Singh, a contractor from Batala. He had completed patchwork repairs on city roads and submitted a bill worth ₹3.72 lakh. When he approached the Commissioner to request clearance of payment, he was allegedly told that the bill would only be processed after he deposited 10% of the amount as a bribe.
Amarpal said he was further asked to meet Municipal Corporation employee Rohit Uppal, who was allegedly handling collections on behalf of the Commissioner.
“I worked hard for the payment. I refused to pay the bribe. Later, when I did lighting and sound work for city events, they again demanded 10%. That’s when I decided enough was enough and went to the Vigilance Bureau,” Amarpal said.
Panthey had reportedly given Uppal additional administrative powers, allowing him to influence file movements and financial decisions, which allegedly strengthened the bribery network.
Following verification of the complaint, the Vigilance Bureau conducted the raid and recovered the unaccounted cash. A case has now been registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018 at the Vigilance Bureau Police Station, Amritsar Range.
Inside the Municipal Corporation, the arrest has sent tremors through the administration. Files are reportedly moving faster, phones are unusually silent, and officials who once behaved with authority were seen avoiding public interactions on Saturday.
A councillor, reacting to the development, said the arrest may temporarily change the atmosphere inside the MC.
“For now, everyone will stay quiet. No one will ask for anything. People are scared after the arrest, and honestly, they should be. Let’s hope this accountability continues, because the public deserves better.”