Srinagar, 1 July (H.S.): Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) today arrested a District Development Council (DDC) member and his tout in Srinagar while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000, officials said.
ACB said that they received a written complaint alleging that the complainant has been operating a scholar boarding school, along with a swimming pool and guest house, at Check Dara, Harwan, Srinagar for a long time and has been running it peacefully.
Recently, an official inspection was conducted at the site, through which the complainant came to know that the inspection was arranged by the DDC Member Mohammad Shaban Chopan, a resident of Dara Harwan, Srinagar.
Thereafter, the DDC Member, through his tout Ghulam Mohammad Khathana of Dara Harwan, Srinagar, demanded a bribe of Rs 5,00,000, and the complainant was asked to pay Rs 50,000 as the first instalment and a blank signed cheque.
The complainant was further told that he should pay the remaining amount after getting the required clearances and matter resolved.
The complainant further alleged that all this was done on behest of the DDC member only to create pressure and find a reason to demand money from him.
Acting on the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification through a designated officer.
The verification report confirmed the allegations and substantiated that the public servant through his tout had indeed demanded illegal gratification.
On the basis of the complaint and verification report, a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended) r/w 61(2) BNS was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar.
“Subsequently, a trap team was constituted, and a successful trap was laid. During the trap operation, the accused public servant and his tout were caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 50,000 and a blank signed cheque from the complainant. They were immediately apprehended on the spot,” the ACB said.
Further investigation in the matter is ongoing.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar
