Overview
- The Department of Personnel and Training granted prosecution sanction on February 11, 2026 under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- The order enables the Punjab Vigilance Bureau to file a chargesheet and proceed to trial against the retired IAS officer.
- The case arises from a November 9, 2009 vigilance trap alleging a ₹2 lakh bribe, with tainted notes recovered and a positive phenolphthalein test reported.
- A trial court had earlier discharged him after ruling only the Centre could sanction prosecution, following a 2010 state sanction and a 2018 withdrawal by the then government.
- After the High Court imposed a ₹50,000 cost for delays, Punjab forwarded the file on November 28, 2025, the CVC advised sanction, and the Centre approved it.