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Punjab Suspends Vigilance Chief Over Driving Licence Corruption Scandal

S.P.S. Parmar and two senior officers were removed for failing to act against widespread bribery and fraud in licence issuance.

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Punjab has 32 automated tracks where driving tests are recorded on video and scored digitally.

Overview

  • The Punjab government suspended Vigilance Bureau chief S.P.S. Parmar, along with AIG Harpreet Singh and SSP Swarandeep Singh, citing grave misconduct and dereliction of duty.
  • Investigations revealed systemic corruption in the driving licence system, with officials and agents accepting bribes to issue licences without proper tests.
  • Surprise inspections on April 7 led to 16 FIRs, 24 arrests, and evidence of fraud, including the use of proxy drivers and old test videos to bypass automated systems.
  • Senior transport officer Ramandeep Singh Dhillon was arrested, while two others, Pardeep Singh Dhillon and Ravinder Kumar Bansal, remain at large.
  • This marks the third leadership change in the Vigilance Bureau in three months, as the government pledges stricter anti-corruption measures and further investigations.