Chandigarh, October 27, 2026:- As part of an initiative launched by the Central Vigilance Commission across the country, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau will observe Vigilance Awareness Week from October 26 to November 1, 2026, under the theme “Probity for Prosperity”. It is noteworthy that Vigilance Awareness Week is observed every year during the week in which the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel falls on October 31. To mark the week with a commitment to integrity and transparency, all Vigilance Bureau officers and employees pledged to fight corruption unitedly at a function held today at the Bureau’s headquarters in Mohali.
The oath of integrity was administered to Vigilance Bureau officers and employees by J.D. IVC and S.U. Swarnadeep Singh in the presence of Special DGP-cum-Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, Dr. Sharad Satya Chauhan; Prabhjot Kaur and Diyama Harish Kumar Omprakash, both Joint Directors; and DIG, Economic Offences Wing, Harpreet Singh.
Providing detailed information, Dr. Sharad Satya Chauhan, Special DGP-cum-Chief Director, Vigilance Bureau, Punjab, said the primary objective of this week-long campaign was to make citizens aware of their important role in supporting and strengthening the Bureau’s multifaceted efforts to eliminate corruption from government offices.
He said the awareness week would be observed under the theme “Probity for Prosperity”, which reflects that transparency, ethical conduct and institutional integrity are the foundations of sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the state.
He explained that, to ensure maximum public participation, all Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of the Vigilance ranges had been directed to organise awareness programmes in every district, covering both rural and urban areas. Officers had been advised to keep their office doors open to the public and actively engage with citizens. He said open interaction with the public was essential to gather ground-level information about irregularities and corrupt activities so that prompt punitive action could be taken against those responsible.
He further said, “Special focus will be placed on expanding the reach of the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line (ACAL) through WhatsApp number 9501200200.” Launched by the Punjab government in March 2022, this dedicated platform enables citizens to lodge confidential complaints related to corruption by submitting audio and video messages.
He added that, reaffirming their commitment, all Vigilance Bureau officers and employees had also collectively taken the integrity pledge at all district headquarters today. They were instructed to uphold the principles of integrity and confidentiality in their professional and personal lives. Officers were also directed to maintain strict confidentiality regarding official records.
He further stated that, as part of a wide-ranging public awareness campaign, banners would be installed at prominent public places to educate people about the anti-corruption drive. These banners would carry the contact details of designated Vigilance officers, providing citizens with direct channels to report complaints and further enhancing transparency in the anti-corruption campaign.
Alongside these efforts, Vigilance Bureau range officers would organise seminars and workshops at educational institutions and other prominent public places by inviting eminent personalities to encourage discussions on integrity and ethics. They had also been directed to coordinate with various departmental offices in their respective districts to spread the message of vigilance and integrity.
He appealed to the public to support the government and the Vigilance Bureau’s anti-corruption campaign to ensure corruption-free administration in the state. He said its elimination depended largely on the collective will of the people. Citizens were urged to promptly report any demand for bribes or personal favours through the Chief Minister’s Anti-Corruption Action Line portal. He assured the public that accused persons would be arrested promptly and strict legal action would be taken against them. He emphasised that the zero-tolerance policy would continue and no one found involved in corruption or irregularities would be spared.
Continuing its zero-tolerance policy against corruption, the Vigilance Bureau registered 1,118 corruption cases between March 2022 and September 30, 2026. He further stated that a total of 1,156 accused persons had been arrested during the investigation of these cases.
