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Punjab: Court remands two accused in ₹13 lakh bribery case to judicial custody
A special CBI court in Chandigarh remanded Raghav Goyal and Vikas Goyal to 14-day judicial custody in connection with an alleged ₹13 lakh bribery case linked to Punjab Vigilance Bureau officials. The arrests, trap details, and a venue correction were reported from May 11 to May 15, 2026.
Why It Matters
The case involves alleged bribery tied to vigilance authorities, highlighting concerns about corruption and governance in Punjab. The custody remand and venue correction indicate ongoing judicial scrutiny.
Timeline
5 Events
Venue correction regarding where bribe was demanded (May 15, 2026)
May 15, 2026
The court corrected the venue where the bribe was alleged to have been demanded, stating that the demand occurred at CSIR-CSIO Guest House, Chandigarh, and rectified the factual typographical mistake in the order dated May 12, 2026 regarding this detail.
Remand order for two accused (May 15, 2026)
May 15, 2026
Special judge Bhawna Jain remanded Raghav Goyal and Vikas Goyal in 14-day judicial custody, with the end date stated as May 26, 2026 in court records.
Trap operation details and bribe cash evidence (May 11, 2026)
May 11, 2026
During a trap operation on May 11, co-accused Ankit Wadhwa was allegedly caught accepting ₹13 lakh in cash along with a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold-7 mobile phone from the complainant. The CBI had alleged that ₹20 lakh was demanded on behalf of OP Rana and other VB officials.
Arrests made in the case (May 11, 2026)
May 11, 2026
Private contractors Raghav Goyal and his father Vikas Goyal, along with Ankit Wadhwa, were arrested in connection with the case. OP Rana, a person described as reader to the chief director (VB), remains absconding at the time of reporting.
CBI registers case on Amit Kumar's complaint (May 11, 2026)
May 11, 2026
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case on May 11, 2026, on the complaint of Amit Kumar, a state tax officer, in connection with an alleged bribery case linked to Punjab Vigilance Bureau officials. The CBI alleged that the accused demanded illegal gratification for settling a vigilance complaint pending against the complainant, including a demand of ₹20 lakh on behalf of OP Rana and other senior VB officials.