SRINAGAR: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a government official for demanding and accepting bribe from a complainant in Srinagar.

CBI arrested a Junior Assistant posted in Institute of Management, Administration and Rural Development, Srinagar (J&K) for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3,000 from the Complainant, a statement said on Friday.

A case was registered on a complaint against the accused on the allegations of demanding bribe from the Complainant in lieu of getting him recruited as a Driver in the Government Department.

CBI laid a trap and caught the accused while demanding and accepting a bribe from the Complainant.
Searches were conducted at the premises of the accused in Srinagar which led to recovery of incriminating documents.

The arrested accused is being produced today before the Special Judge, CBI Cases, Srinagar, the statement added. (UNI)

SRINAGAR: Anti-corruption Bureau on Monday said to have arrested an FCI Godown Owner alongside a Weigher for 'accepting bribe in lieu of unloading of a truck'. 

"A complainant approached the Anti Corruption Bureau with a written complaint against the office bearers of FCI Godown Chandpora Budgam, alleging demand of bribes from the complainant for unloading his truck. The truck is associated with transportation of food-grain for FCI and had arrived at FCI Godown, Chandpora with a load of rice on 12-08-2023. Since then the truck had not been unloaded and the office bearers had finally told the complainant to approach Godown owner and Tajamul Hassan Shah, Weigher", said a Bureau spokesperson in a statement issued to GNS.

The complainant, the statement, accordingly approached the Godown Owner, who told him to deposit an amount of ₹1500 into his bank account. Further, the Weigher told him to pay a bribe of ₹3500 before his truck could be unloaded. The complainant however, chose not to pay a bribe and approached ACB Srinagar for taking legal action against the accused as provided under law.

"On receipt of the complaint, a Case FIR No. 16/2023 U/S 7, 7A of PC Act 1988 was registered with PS ACB Srinagar and investigation taken up", reads the statement. 

"During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted by this Bureau. The team laid a successful trap and caught the accused Weigher red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe amount of ₹3500 from the complainant. The money was recovered from the accused on the spot. Moreover, before receiving a receipt of transported food-grain, the driver was asked by the Godown Owner to deposit an amount of ₹1500 into his bank account."

"The accused Godown Owner has been identified as Ab Majeed Sheikh S/o Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh R/o Firdousabad, Batamaloo Srinagar, Proprietor Sheikh Suppliers and Contractors while as weigher has been identified Tajamul Hassan Shah S/O Ghulam Hassan Shah R/O Dharmuna Budgam", reads the statement. 

"On the spot, there were several other drivers available, who transport food-grain for FCI. They were examined and it came to the surface that all the drivers were forced to pay bribes before their trucks were unloaded. The drivers on the spot complained that they are extorted money at all the Godowns of FCI especially Lethpora, and otherwise their trucks are not unloaded timely and are made to wait long.  Almost all the drivers available on the spot have paid some amount to the Godown owner and weigher by one or the other way".

"Some of the drivers showed mPay screen shots depicting transfer of ₹3000 each into the bank account of accused Abdul Majeed."

"It is pertinent to note that the Godown owner Ab Majeed Sheikh, is accused in ₹30 crore fraud of J&K Bank. In connection with bank fraud ACB has charge-sheeted the accused in ACB case FIR No. 06/2019 of PS ACB Anantnag", reads the statement. 

"Further investigation into the case is going on. Role of the other involved persons associated with FCI Godown Chandpora is being investigated. More arrests are expected to follow in the instant case", concludes the statement. (GNS)

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)

SRINAGAR: Anti-corruption Bureau on Tuesday trapped and arrested a forest department officer and an employee for demanding and accepting bribe in Reasi. 

"Anti Corruption Bureau received a complaint against Abneet Kumar presently posted at Beat Bharakh with additional charge of Beat Narla Bambal. In the complaint, the complainant alleged that he had taken one dry fallen Chir tree from the forest and after few days Munshi of PP Taryath contacted the complainant and told that Forest Guard namely Abneet Kumar of beat Narla Bambal lodged a complaint against him for cutting/taking of tree from the forest without permission", reads a statement issued to GNS. 

"When the complainant met Munshi of PP Teryath, he told him to settle the matter with the Forest Guard. When the complainant contacted forest guard through another persons, he demanded ₹22,000 as bribe for withdrawn of application and settlement. On this the complainant approached ACB and lodged complaint in Police Station ACB Rajouri for taking legal action against the above named Forest Guard."

"Since the contents of the complaint disclose demand of bribe by alleged accused public servant the same was verified through verifying officer who reported that prima facie commission of offences under section 7 of PC Act 1988 is made out against the accused Abneet Kumar Forest Guard. Accordingly, case FIR No. 02/2023 of PS ACB Rajouri and investigation started", reads the statement. 

"During investigation a trap team was constituted. However, during the trap proceedings, another forest official Sat Pal, Incharge Block officer Thakrakote was also found involved in the conspiracy with the said Forest Guard Abneet Kumar.  They were caught red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe of ₹15,000 from the complainant. Both of them were arrested on spot after completing necessary legal formalities."

"Searches were also conducted in the houses of the accused persons situated at Pouni, Reasi and Gurha Jagir, Akhnoor", reads the statement further. (GNS)

SRINAGAR: An Assistant Sub-inspector rank police official alongside another cop were on Monday suspended after a video of the duo purportedly taking bribe from a driver in Ramban district went viral on social media. 

“A video was doing rounds on various social media platforms wherein a traffic cop deployed at Ramban Bazar to Trishol Morh was seen  indulging in an unprofessional conduct by accepting money from a driver at Naka Trishol Morh”, reads an official statement issued to GNS.

“Taking a serious view of the incident, selection grade constable Mohammed Latief and his In charge ASI Bini Kumar were placed under suspension with immediate effect”, it reads adding further a departmental enquiry has been initiated against the alleged cops. (GNS)