A day after the Punjab Vigilance Bureau arrested four cops in Fazilka for taking a bribe from a minor boy over some videos in his phone, the Punjab government on Wednesday suspended SSP Fazilka Varinder Brar in the same bribery case.

A spokesperson said that following an investigation into the allegations of corruption linked to the bribery case involving four police officers, action was taken against the senior officer as well.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema had earlier on Tuesday announced the arrest of four cops, emphasising the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption.

The scandal came to light when a Fazilka resident presented evidence to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on the anti-corruption helpline against the cops of the Cyber Crime Police Station in Fazilka who demanded a bribe of Rs 1 lakh to resolve a complaint involving the confiscation of the minor’s phone.

Despite the family’s repeated attempts to resolve the issue through legal means, they were ultimately coerced into paying the bribe. The arrested officials include the Station House Officer (SHO), a reader, and two constables.