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CBI raid on vigilance office: Two accused sent to 3-day remand, one sent to judicial custody

A special CBI court in Chandigarh remanded two middlemen to three days of custody and sent a third accused to judicial custody after a late-night raid at Mohali’s Punjab Vigilance office in a ₹13 lakh bribery case involving senior officers. A non-bailable warrant was issued against O P Rana, who remains absconding. The case stems from a Punjab State Tax Officer’s complaint, and the raid is described as the first central agency action at the Punjab Vigilance Bureau.

Why It Matters

This event involves a central agency investigating a state anti-corruption wing and could have implications for governance and accountability within Punjab’s vigilance apparatus.

Timeline

6 Events

First central agency raid at Punjab Vigilance Bureau office

May 12, 2026

The CBI described the operation as the first raid by a central investigative agency at the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office in Mohali.

Officials say they will cooperate with CBI; Chauhan statement

May 12, 2026

Punjab Vigilance Bureau officials said they will cooperate fully with the CBI and let the law take its course. Vigilance Bureau Chief Director Sharad Satya Chauhan, attending the Mohali office, said he had no knowledge of the case and that cooperation with the investigation agency would be ensured.

Non-bailable warrant issued against O P Rana; Rana absconding

May 12, 2026

The court issued a non-bailable warrant against O P Rana, reader to the Director General of Vigilance Punjab; Rana is still absconding.

Three suspects produced before a special CBI court; remand orders

May 12, 2026

The three accused were produced before a special CBI court in Chandigarh. The court remanded Vikas Goyal and his son Raghav Goyal to three-day remand, while Ankit Wadhwa was sent to judicial custody.

Late-night CBI raid at Punjab Vigilance office Mohali and arrests

May 12, 2026

A late-night CBI raid at the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office in Mohali led to the arrest of three individuals in the ₹13 lakh bribery case involving senior Vigilance officials: Vikas Goyal, his son Raghav Goyal, and Ankit Wadhwa. The bribe amount and a mobile phone were recovered during the trap proceedings, with the operation followed by a dramatic chase.

FIR registered by CBI following tax officer's complaint

May 12, 2026

The CBI registered an FIR after a Punjab State Tax Officer complained that Vikas Goyal and his son, Raghav Goyal, demanded illegal gratification of ₹20 lakh to close a complaint against him in the Punjab DG Vigilance office. The negotiations reportedly reduced the demand to ₹13 lakh and included one Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 mobile phone for Rana, the reader to the DGP Vigilance.