Vigilance arrests District Sainik Welfare Officer of Bageshwar red-handed

DAINIK NATION BUREAUN/BAGESHWAR

The Vigilance Department has arrested the District Sainik Welfare Officer of Bageshwar red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹50,000 on Saturday. The officer had allegedly demanded the bribe from a retired soldier in exchange for extending his service period. Ironically the Uttarakhand government under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has significantly ramped up its anti-corruption campaign, sending a strong message of zero tolerance.

This is the second high-profile arrest within a span of just two weeks. Earlier, on May 9, the Chief Treasurer and Accountant of Nainital were also arrested red-handed by the Vigilance team while accepting a bribe of ₹1.20 lakh. These back-to-back actions have triggered a wave of concern among corrupt officials and mafia networks operating within the state.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has reiterated his firm resolve to make Uttarakhand one of the leading and most transparent states in India. From the beginning of his tenure, the Dhami government has adopted a strict zero-tolerance policy toward corruption and maladministration.

In the last three years, over 150 individuals — including more than 80 government officials and employees — have been arrested on corruption charges. Additionally, more than 70 people have been caught and jailed under the state’s stringent anti-copying law. The campaign has made it clear that even those with strong political or bureaucratic connections will not be spared.

The crackdown is being seen as a part of the Dhami government’s larger effort to restore public trust in the system, promote clean governance, and dismantle the deep-rooted nexus of corruption across departments. With vigilance teams becoming increasingly active, more arrests are expected in the coming weeks.