The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday trapped and arrested a Technical Assistant in the Rural Development Department (RDD) Budgam, while he was allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 from a complainant.
The accused, identified as Sajad Ahmad Raina was caught red-handed during a ‘trap’ operation conducted by the ACB.
ACB said they received a written complaint alleging that Sajad Raina, Technical Assistant in the office of the RDD, Block Budgam, resident of Kralwari Budgam, was demanding a bribe of Rs 40,000 for preparation and release of bills in favour of the complainant for completion of work executed under the MGNREGA scheme.
“During the pre-trap verification, it was revealed that the accused public servant was insisting on payment of Rs 40,000 as bribe, which the complainant was unwilling to pay,” it said.
“The complainant arranged Rs 5,000 in cash and a cheque of Rs 35,000 and approached ACB. The verification confirmed the demand of bribe, accordingly FIR No. 06/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered at Police station ACB Srinagar, and investigation taken up,” the ACB said.
They added that during the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted.
“The team laid a successful trap and caught the accused public servant red-handed in the office of RDD Block Budgam while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 in cash and a cheque of Rs 35,000 from the complainant. During the search of the accused’s handbag, Rs 39,300 in cash was also recovered.
The accused was taken into custody after completing all medico-legal formalities,” ACB said, adding further investigation into the case is in progress.
