The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday arrested a forest guard in a bribery case.
An ACB spokesperson said that a written complaint was received alleging that the accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant for expediting the release of security deposits related to allotted works.
After negotiations, the accused allegedly agreed to accept Rs 15,000 as illegal gratification.
The spokesman stated that unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau seeking legal action against the accused official.
Upon receiving the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification, which established a prima facie case of bribery against the accused public servant. Consequently, a case was registered at Police Station ACB Central, Jammu, and an investigation was initiated.
During the investigation, the spokesman said that a trap team was constituted and laid a successful trap and caught the accused public servant , identified as Vaseem Ahmad Hap of Hidyal in Kishtwar district, presently posted as a Forest Guard and handling accounts work in the office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Forest Division Marwah, red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 15,000 from the complainant.
The accused was immediately arrested on the spot, and the bribe amount was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap team.
Subsequently, searches were conducted at the residential premises of the accused government employee in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses, he said. Further investigation into the case is underway, he added.
