J&K ACB Files Charge-Sheet Against Ex-Corporator and Husband in ₹10,000 Bribery Trap Case
JAMMU, Apr 9 — In a significant development in the ongoing fight against corruption, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday submitted a charge-sheet before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Jammu, against Jyoti Devi, former Corporator of Ward No. 53, Trikuta Nagar, and her husband Sham Lal. The duo has been accused of demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹10,000 in exchange for issuing a Mulba Clearance Certificate to a local contractor.
According to an official spokesperson of the ACB, the case originated from a complaint lodged by the contractor, who alleged that while seeking the mandatory Mulba Clearance Certificate for the works he had completed, Jyoti Devi demanded an illegal gratification of ₹10,000. She reportedly directed him to contact her husband Sham Lal to settle the payment.
Refusing to yield to the bribe demand, the complainant took a courageous step by approaching the Anti-Corruption Bureau, seeking appropriate legal action against the accused public servant and her accomplice.
Acting swiftly on the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification of the allegations, which substantiated the claims. Consequently, a formal case was registered at Police Station ACB Jammu, and a detailed investigation was launched.
As part of the investigation, a trap team was constituted. The team successfully laid a trap and apprehended both accused — the former Corporator and her husband — red-handed while accepting the bribe amount of ₹10,000 from the complainant. The trap operation was conducted in the presence of independent witnesses to ensure transparency and legal compliance.
Following the completion of the investigation, which proved the involvement of the accused in the bribery act, and after obtaining prosecution sanction from the competent government authority, a charge-sheet was formally filed in the Special Anti-Corruption Court in Jammu. The court subsequently transferred the case to the Additional Special Judge Anti-Corruption Jammu for further judicial proceedings.
