ACB arrests four officials, including PWD staff and ASI, in separate bribery cases
ACB intensifies anti-graft drive, arrests four in Udhampur and Rajouri cases
SRINAGAR, Jan 20: In a strong crackdown on corruption, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested four government officials, including two employees of the Public Works Department, a revenue Patwari, and a police Assistant Sub-Inspector, in three separate cases of demanding and accepting bribes. The arrests were made following complaints from citizens who refused to pay illegal gratification and instead approached the ACB for legal action.
Officials said the operations were conducted after discreet verifications confirmed the allegations, leading to well-coordinated trap proceedings in which the accused were caught red-handed while accepting bribe money. One case was registered at Police Station ACB Udhampur, while two others were registered at Police Station ACB Rajouri.
In the first case, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint against Anil Jamwal, Junior Assistant in the office of the Superintending Engineer, PWD R&B Udhampur, and Jeet Kumar, a computer operator in the office of the Executive Engineer, PWD R&B Udhampur. The complainant alleged that the duo demanded a bribe for issuing a contractor card. After verification corroborated the demand, a case under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was registered.
A trap team led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police was constituted, and both accused were caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 12,000 from the complainant in the presence of independent witnesses. The bribe amount was recovered on the spot, and subsequent searches were conducted at locations in Ram Nagar and Laddan Power House in Udhampur in the presence of a magistrate.
In the second case, the ACB acted on a complaint against ASI Zamurat Manhas, posted at Police Station Mendhar. The complainant alleged that the ASI demanded a bribe to settle a dispute related to the return of money and threatened action under the Public Safety Act if the demand was not met. Following verification, a case was registered at Police Station ACB Rajouri.
During the trap operation, ASI Zamurat Manhas was apprehended while accepting Rs 5,000 as bribe from the complainant. He was arrested on the spot, and searches were later carried out at his residential premises in Mendhar, Surankote, and Jammu.
In the third case, the ACB registered a complaint against Patwari Mohd Razaq, posted in Patwar Halqa Sokar Prori, Koteranka. The complainant alleged that the Patwari demanded money for recording the names of his three daughters in the revenue records. After verification, a case was registered at Police Station ACB Rajouri.
The Patwari was subsequently caught red-handed while accepting Rs 10,000 as bribe from the complainant. He was arrested on the spot, and searches were conducted at his residence. Further investigation is underway in all three cases to ascertain whether the accused were involved in other similar acts of corruption.
Officials said the arrests underline the ACB’s zero-tolerance approach towards corruption and reiterated their appeal to the public to report instances of bribery without fear.
