JAMMU, Oct 4: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday arrested a Head Constable of Police Station Mahore after he was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹8,000, in a case that highlights the administration’s continued crackdown on corruption within the law enforcement system.
According to the ACB, the arrest followed a detailed complaint by a citizen who had been detained in a case and was granted interim bail by a local court on July 25, 2025, with the condition of reporting daily to the police station between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. The complainant alleged that during this period, Head Constable Mahroof Ahmed repeatedly harassed him, unlawfully detained him beyond the prescribed hours, and demanded a bribe of ₹8,000 in exchange for allowing his timely release. The initial bribe was allegedly paid on October 1, 2025, within the police station premises.
However, the accused did not stop there. ACB said that just two days later, the head constable again threatened the complainant and his associate, this time demanding ₹12,000 for the release of their tractor and continued leniency in allowing them to leave the police station on time. He further threatened to book them under the Public Safety Act (PSA) if the payment was not made. After negotiations, the demand was reduced to ₹8,000.
Unwilling to comply further, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which conducted a preliminary verification of the allegations. Once the complaint was found to be genuine, the bureau registered FIR No. 02/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) at ACB Udhampur. A trap team led by a Gazetted Officer was constituted, and the accused was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting ₹8,000 in the presence of independent witnesses.
An ACB spokesperson confirmed that the accused was immediately taken into custody and that further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of his misconduct and identify any potential accomplices. The bureau reiterated its commitment to maintaining transparency, accountability, and integrity in public services and urged citizens to report any instances of corruption without fear.