In a significant ruling, a special court in Mohali, Punjab, convicted Jagdish Lal, an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) of the Punjab Police, for demanding and accepting a ₹25,000 bribe. The court sentenced him to three years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and imposed a fine of ₹10,000. If he fails to pay the fine, he will face an additional two months in jail. The case stemmed from a complaint by Dharam Singh, a transporter, who alleged that Lal was demanding money to permit trucks carrying gravel and stone to pass through the area. A sting operation conducted by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on August 1, 2019, confirmed the bribe, with officials recovering cash from Lal's possession. Despite initial hesitance from the complainant during the trial, the court accepted audio evidence where both the complainant and the ASI's voices were identified. The court dismissed the defence's claims of personal vendetta against Lal, noting a lack of supporting evidence for such allegations.