CBI Arrests EPFO Enforcement Officer in Patiala for Accepting ₹2.5 Lakh Bribe
Chandigarh, July 23, 2026: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested an Enforcement Officer posted at the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) District Office in Patiala, Punjab, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹2.5 lakh. The arrest was made following a trap operation conducted by the agency on July 22, 2026.
According to the CBI, the case was registered on July 22, 2026, after a complaint was received from an EPF consultant. The consultant alleged that the officer had demanded a bribe in connection with an ongoing inquiry against one of his clients under Section 7A of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
The inquiry was being conducted by EPFO authorities to examine matters relating to the client’s provident fund obligations. Although the consultant had reportedly submitted all the required documents to the EPFO department, the accused officer allegedly threatened to submit an adverse report against the client and recommend the imposition of a substantial penalty.
The CBI further alleged that the officer later contacted the consultant over the telephone and asked him to meet at the EPFO Regional Office in Chandigarh on July 21, 2026. During the meeting, the officer allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹4 lakh in exchange for closing the inquiry against the consultant’s client with a minimum penalty.
Following the complaint, the CBI laid a trap on July 22, 2026. During the operation, the Enforcement Officer was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting ₹2.5 lakh from the complainant.
The accused was arrested on the same day and produced before the competent court in Chandigarh on July 23, 2026. After considering the matter, the court remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.
The CBI has stated that the investigation is ongoing. Further action will depend on the findings of the investigation and the evidence collected in the case.
News Source: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) – Official Press Release
