The Aam Aadmi Party's Bathinda Rural MLA Amit Rattan has been arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in a bribery case, officials told news agency ANI on Thursday.
MLA Amit Rattan is being questioned at Bathinda Civil Line Police Station and will be soon taken to Bathinda Civil Hospital for medical examination, ANI reported quoting officials.
After the arrest, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said corruption will not be tolerated and anyone found guilty will be punished.
"Bribery by anyone, in any way, will not be tolerated. Faith, love and expectations of the people of Punjab keep my spirit up,” Mann said in a tweet in Punjabi.
There will not be any mercy for those who “gobble up” people's money, said Mann adding, “law is equal for all.” The MLA was nabbed from Rajpura on Wednesday evening and has now been arrested, an officer told PTI.
He will be produced in a court on Thursday and police will seek his remand, the official added.
The MLA's arrest comes four after he was called for questioning by the vigilance officials.
On February 17, the vigilance team arrested MLA Rattan's personal assistant, Rashim Garg, from Bathinda Circuit House in Punjab for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 4 lakhs from a sarpanch, ANI said.
According to the officials, the sarpanch's husband accused the MLA's PA of demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh by taking the name of Amit Rattan, after which the complainant reached the circuit house with the Vigilance team.
Kotfatta had earlier denied having any association with Garg. He had accused the opposition parties of trying to defame the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab.
The PA was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe at the circuit house. Further investigation into the matter is underway, officials added.