Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested a Panchayat Secretary posted in Kulgam district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000.
A spokesperson of ACB said the accused, Shiekh Zada Irfan of Muniwara, Anantnag and posted as Panchayat Secretary (VLW) of Block Devsar Kulgam, had demanded Rs 10,000 from a complainant for clearing labour bills under MGNREGA works. The amount was later negotiated to Rs 5,000.
Acting on a complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification, which confirmed the allegations, following which an FIR under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered at Police Station ACB Anantnag.
“During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and caught the said employee red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe. He was arrested on the spot, and the bribe amount was also recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap team,” ACB said.
The ACB also carried out a search of the accused’s residence in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and witnesses.
Further investigation is underway, the spokesman said.
