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CHANDIGARH: The First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation in an alleged corruption case involving the reader to the Punjab Vigilance chief and three others has mentioned the name of Sharad Satya Chauhan, potentially deepening the controversy surrounding the state’s Vigilance Bureau.

Although Chauhan has not been named as an accused in the FIR, references to him appear in the contents of the case registered by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Bureau in Chandigarh.

Alleged bribe demand on behalf of Vigilance officials

According to the agency’s verification report dated May 11 — prepared after the FIR was registered on May 8 — accused persons Raghav Goyal and Vikas Goyal allegedly demanded Rs 13 lakh from a complainant on behalf of certain public servants for facilitating the closure of a pending vigilance complaint.

The report stated that the money was allegedly sought “on behalf of public servants, namely OP Rana, Reader to DG (Vigilance), Punjab, and DG (Vigilance), Punjab, for facilitating closure of the complaint pending against complainant Amit Kumar in the office of DG (Vigilance), Punjab.”

The FIR further mentions that a written complaint was submitted by State Tax Officer Amit Kumar, a resident of Abohar, on May 8.

According to the complaint, private contractors Vikas Goyal and Raghav Goyal were allegedly acting as intermediaries on behalf of Sharad Satya Chauhan and his reader, OP Rana and had demanded illegal gratification to secure the disposal of a vigilance complaint allegedly pending against him.

CBI probing corruption and criminal conspiracy

The CBI has initiated an investigation into alleged offences, including criminal conspiracy, demand of undue advantage by a public servant and obtaining illegal gratification to influence public servants through corrupt or illegal means.

The FIR registered at the CBI Anti-Corruption Bureau police station in Chandigarh names OP Rana, Vikas Goyal and Raghav Goyal as accused, along with “unknown public and private persons.”

Officials said the investigation is currently focused on the alleged bribery network, the role of intermediaries, and whether any public officials, directly or indirectly, benefited from the alleged demand for illegal gratification.

No formal accusation against DGP so far

Importantly, while the FIR references the Punjab DGP (Vigilance), Sharad Satya Chauhan has not been formally named as an accused at this stage.

However, legal and administrative observers believe the mention of the top officer’s name in the FIR contents could intensify scrutiny and create pressure for further clarification as the investigation progresses.

The case assumes significance because it involves allegations concerning the functioning of the state’s Vigilance Bureau itself—an agency tasked with investigating corruption and misconduct among public officials.

Political and administrative implications

The development comes amid heightened political tension in Punjab over alleged corruption cases, central agency action and ongoing confrontations between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government and the BJP-led Centre.

The FIR is likely to trigger a fresh political debate over transparency and accountability within the state’s investigative agencies.

So far, neither Sharad Satya Chauhan nor the Punjab Vigilance Bureau has issued a detailed public response regarding the references made in the CBI FIR.

Further investigation by the CBI is currently underway.