SRINAGAR: Anti-corruption Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir, Friday said to have arrested a Block Development Council member for demanding and accepting bribes in Ganderbal district. 

"A complainant approached Anti Corruption Bureau with a written complaint against public servants namely Majid Aziz, District Mineral Officer Ganderbal and Gowhar Ahmad Reshi, BDC Member, alleging demand of bribe for issuance of disposal permit. It was alleged that the complainant is an authorized material supplier and sought disposal permit from DMO Ganderbal after completing all procedural formalities. However, the issuance of permit was delayed on one or the other pretext. When he approached DMO Ganderbal Majid Aziz, the complainant was asked to visit BDC member Gowhar Ahmad and do whatever he demands", said an ACB spokesman in a statement issued to GNS. 

The complainant, the statement reads, accordingly approached Gowhar Ahmad who demanded a bribe of ₹50,000 for the issuance of document out of which ₹10,000 was to be paid in advance today.

"The complainant chose not to pay bribe and instead approached Anti-Corruption Bureau for taking legal action against the accused public servant as provided under law. On receipt of the complaint, a Case FIR No. 01/2024 U/S 7 PC Act 1988 was registered at PS ACB Srinagar and investigation taken up", reads the statement adding that during the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted. 

The team, the statement reads, laid a successful trap and caught the accused BDC member red handed while demanding and accepting bribe amount of ₹10,000 from the complainant. The money was recovered from the accused on the spot.

The accused has been identified as Gowhar Ahmad Reshi son of Sonaullah Reshi resident of Safapora Ganderbal, BDC Member, and the role of DMO  Majid Aziz in the matter is being investigated.

"Further investigation into the case is going on", reads the statement. 

"ACB J&K has appealed to people not to pay bribes to any public servant and in the event of demand of bribes by any public servant, approach ACB J&K", the statement reads. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Government of Jammu and Kashmir has given Additional Director of General Police (Law & Order) Vijay Kumar additional charge of Director, Anti-corruption Bureau Jammu and Kashmir. 

The additional charge to ADGP (L&O), Kumar has been given wake as the government has relieved Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, from the additional charges of Director of the Anti-corruption Bureau.

"In the interest of administration, it is hereby ordered that Shri Vijay Kumar, IPS (RR:97), Additional Director General Police (Law & Order), J&K, shall also hold the charge of the post of Director, Anti-corruption Bureau, J&K, in addition to his own duties, till further orders, relieving Shri Anand Jain, IPS (RR:99), Inspector General of Police, Jammu Zone, of additional charge of the said post", reads an order, a copy of which lies with GNS. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Anti-corruption Bureau on Tuesday trapped and arrested a Drug Control Officer Handwara for demanding a bribe amount of ten thousand rupees, official sources said.

The sources informed news agency Kashmir Scroll that one Ishtiyaq Ahmad Baba was arrested after the ACB received a complaint against him through its helpline number.

The accused had been demanding an amount of rupees of ten thousand for some work - which wasn't immediately known at the time of filing of this report. (KS)

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said that his vision as well as mission was to see Jammu and Kashmir corruption free.

“In order to eliminate the cancer of corruption, all the stakeholders have an important role to play. Corruption free J&K is our vision as well as the mission,” the Lt Governor added.

Sinha said this while administering an ‘Integrity Pledge’ to the officers, SSF Personnel and staff of Raj Bhavan, and Administrative Secretaries and Deputy Commissioners (through virtual mode) at Civil Secretariat on the occasion of the Vigilance Awareness Week.

He read out the Integrity Pledge and administered the oath to officers and staff.
The Lt Governor said that we need an integrated and collective approach to deal with corruption, which impedes the growth and undermines the moral fibre of the society.

He also highlighted the steps taken to improve public service delivery in all the organizations and thereby, paving way towards good governance in Jammu and Kashmir.

“We must take this opportunity to renew our commitment to achieve the goals of promoting efficiency, accountability and probity in public life for a better future,” Sinha added.

The J&K Government is observing ‘Vigilance Awareness Week’ from October 30 to November 5. The theme of the ‘Vigilance Awareness Week’ this year is “Say No to Corruption; Commit to the Nation”. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday said that, keeping with its avowed policy of zero tolerance for corruption and misconduct by the employees, ordered removal of Ruquiya Akhter, Watch and Ward Woman of the erstwhile J&K Legislative Council presently under the control of the Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, from service.

In a handout to GNS, the Government said that the employee has been removed from service  in terms of Clause (vii) of Rule-30 of the Jammu and Kashmir Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1956, as the said official was found to have committed misconduct and gross violation of the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971. 

It was proved in enquiry proceedings that while official was deployed in the office of Advocate General, J&K, a fake appointment order was circulated and she received huge sum of money in her account by luring innocent candidates with promise of getting government job. 

The enquiry Officer concluded that the charges framed against the official have been fully established. This removal from service under aforesaid rule shall not entitle her for any pensionary benefits. The order of removal of official shall be a deterrent for other employees who are indulging in corrupt practices, reads the statement. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Police on Thursday arrested a DySP for his allegedly involvement in a case pertaining to corruption and destruction of evidence.

Official sources told GNS that the DySP of 17th IRP, Adil Mushtaq, was arrested in the case (FIR no. 149/2023 u/s7, 7A of prevention of corruption Act and section 167,193,201,210,218,221 of IPC) in Nowgam police station.

" The case relates to corruption, making false evidences, destruction of evidence etc, they said, adding, " In view of larger ramifications in this case, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Gaurav Sikarwar IPS SP South and consisting of SDPO Sadar, SHO Panthachowk, SHO cyber PS, Inspector GM Rather constituted for investigation of this case".

Meanwhile confirming it to GNS, a top police officer said there are some
other complaints of extortion and blackmailing by the arrested officer, which are being dealt separately.

He said that six days police remand has been obtained from a competent court. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday trapped and arrested a revenue official for demanding and accepting bribe in Jammu Kashmir’s Budgam district.

A complainant approached Police Station ACB Srinagar with a written complaint against a public servant, identified as Fayaz Ahmad Shora, Senior Assistant/ In-Charge Nazir Tehsil Office Khag, alleging demand of bribe for listing his case of property dispute sooner in the court of Tehsildar concerned, a statement of the ACB.

It was also alleged that the complainant has a dispute with his uncles with regard to land. The case in this regard is under trial in the court of Executive Magistrate First Class, Tehsildar Khag.

The complainant alleged that the accused Nazir had been delaying the hearings of the case and requested him to expedite the trial of the case, who however demanded a bribe of Rs. 2000 for listing his case.

The complainant did not want to pay a bribe and instead approached ACB Srinagar for taking legal action against the accused public servant under law.

On receipt of the complaint, a Case FIR No. 14/2023 U/S 7 PC Act 1988 was registered with PS ACB Srinagar and investigation was taken up.

During the course of investigation, a team was constituted who laid a successful trap and caught the accused public servant red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe amount of Rs 2000 from the complainant.

The money was recovered from the accused on the spot and the accused revenue official was arrested.
Further investigation into the case is going on, the statement added. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Economic Offences Wing of Crime Branch Kashmir Tuesday produced a chargesheet against two persons accused in multiple offences here. 

"Economic Offences Wing, Srinagar (Crime Branch Kashmir) produced the charge-report in Case FIR No. 60/2016 of P/S Crime Branch Kashmir against two individuals for their alleged involvement in commission of offences punishable under Sections 419, 468, 471, 120-B, 201 of RPC, r/w Sections 5(1) and 5(2) of P.C. Act", reads a statement issued to GNS. 
 
The brief facts of the case, the statement reads, are that Crime Branch Kashmir (now Economic Offences Wing, Srinagar) had received a communication from the Tehsildar (South) Srinagar along with enclosures which, inter-alia, revealed that these accused individuals, in a criminal conspiracy, have dishonesty and fraudulently prepared fake and forged revenue extracts and have produced the same before J&K Bank, Branch Unit Hari Singh High Street, Srinagar for obtaining a loan. 

"The Bank authorities had referred the said revenue extracts to the complainant [Tehsildar (South) Srinagar] for authentication which on verification were found to be fake and forged. Accordingly, the instant Case was registered at P/S Crime Branch Kashmir in the year 2016 and investigation started."
 
"During investigation, the allegations levelled were substantiated and proved. As such, the charge-sheet has been presented against the accused persons before the Hon’ble Anti-Corruption Court, Srinagar for judicial determination", reads the statement further. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: The Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday said that it trapped and arrested a revenue official in Kawarhama area of  Baramulla district for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 5,000 for issuance and processing of revenue extract.

According to a statement, issued to the news agency, Kashmir News Observer (KNO), ACB received a complaint from a resident of Magam alleging therein that Showkat Ali, Patwari Halqa Waripora is demanding bribe of ₹ 9000 from him  for issuance and processing of revenue extract for which he has already applied online etc.

The statement reads that the complainant in his complaint alleged that he and his brother had purchased a piece of land measuring 10 marlas under survey No. 786 situated at Pinjoora from a person. 

“The owner of the land has executed an Agreement with complainant and the land is under the possession of the complainant. He further stated that he approached Patwari for issuance of revenue extract. The Patwari demanded Rs 10,000 for issuance of required documents. The complainant requested the Patwari that he is a poor man and cannot pay this amount but he told him to pay ₹9000 otherwise the work will not be done. He further alleged that the Patwari told the complainant to bring ₹5000 as first instalment on 26-07-2023.” 

 It added that under these circumstances the complainant approached ACB, stating that he doesn’t want to pay bribe and requested for legal action against the Patwari concerned.

 “As the contents of complaint prima facie disclosed the commission of offence punishable U/S 7 of the PC Act 1988 (as amended in 2018) by accused, a case FIR No. 07/2023 was registered at Police Station Anti Corruption Bureau, Baramulla U/S 7 of the P.C Act 1988 against him.”

It further reads that during the course of investigation trap team was constituted which laid a successful trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of ₹5,000.

“He was arrested on the spot after completing all legal formalities. Further investigation in the case is going on,” it reads. (KNO)

SRINAGAR: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has apprehended a forester red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe in the Budugam Tulail area of Gurez valley in Bandipora district.

A top ACB Official told GNS that Mohd Sultan Bhat, the Incharge Block Forester of Budugam Tulail and son of Ab Jabbar  Bhat from Ayatmulla Bandipora, was arrested after being caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a contractor.

He said, the contractor was involved in executing work in the remote area of Bandipora district under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme of the Government of India. The contractor had been facing obstacles due to the lack of forest clearance. The JJM scheme aims to provide safe and sufficient drinking water to rural households across India by 2024 and is currently being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir as well.

The ACB swiftly launched an investigation upon receiving a complaint regarding Bhat's corrupt activities. Acting on the information, ACB officials conducted a successful trap operation, catching Bhat in the act of accepting the bribe. Bhat has been taken into custody.

ACB officials commended the contractor for their courage in reporting the bribery incident and reaffirmed their commitment to combating corruption and ensuring transparency in public services. The arrested forester will be presented before the court, and appropriate legal action will be taken against him.

The ACB urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any instances of corruption, assuring them that such complaints would be dealt with swiftly and firmly. The bureau's ongoing efforts to eliminate corruption and foster a corruption-free environment in Jammu and Kashmir are gaining momentum. (GNS)