On Saturday, Colonel Dr. Subodh Shukla (Retired), 61, who was serving as the District Soldier Welfare Officer, was caught accepting a bribe of ₹50,000. The vigilance department arrested him during a sting operation.

According to officials, Dr. Shukla demanded the bribe from Kailash Pant, a retired soldier who was working on a contract basis through the Uttarakhand Purva Sainik Kalyan Nigam Ltd (UPNL). The bribe was allegedly asked in exchange for extending Pant’s 11-month contract, reported the Times of India.

Pant reported the matter to the vigilance department using their toll-free helpline number (1064). After receiving the complaint, the vigilance team from Haldwani conducted a preliminary inquiry which confirmed the seriousness of the allegation. They then set up a trap to catch Dr. Shukla in the act.

The sting operation took place at the District Soldier Welfare and Rehabilitation Office in Bageshwar. During this operation, Dr. Shukla was caught red-handed accepting the bribe money in front of independent witnesses. 

A case has now been registered against Dr. Shukla under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Legal proceedings have begun, and the vigilance department continues its investigation, the report added.

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