Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has dismissed the Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), Jalandhar, Jugraj Singh, from service, after videos of him demanding bribe from a shopkeeper went viral on social media.

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has dismissed the Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO), Jalandhar, Jugraj Singh, from service, after videos of him demanding bribe from a shopkeeper went viral on social media.

Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said Capt Amarinder Singh had taken serious note of the videos shot by a Jalandhar shopkeeper, Bikker Singh, on July 11. The videos clearly showed the CAO demanding a bribe from Bikker Singh.

The videos were uploaded on social media on July 16 and were shared widely. According to the spokesperson, as soon as the matter came to the notice of the Chief Minister, he directed the agriculture department to investigate it. The department contacted the shopkeeper through the Deputy Commissioner and he submitted an affidavit on July 19, reiterating his allegations.

The Agriculture department submitted its report to the Chief Minister, who also holds the Agriculture portfolio, and he immediately ordered Jugraj Singh's dismissal from service. Reiterating his commitment to zero tolerance against corruption, the Chief Minister warned officials against indulging in corrupt acts and said that similar stern action would be taken against anyone found guilty.

The orders for Jugraj's dismissal were issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Mr. MP Singh under Rule 5 of the Punjab Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules, 1970, read with Article 311 (2) of Constitution of India.