Srinagar, 30 March (H.S.): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today said it has arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) posted at a Police Station in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe.

An ACB spokesperson said the accused, identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, an SPO at Police Station Larnoo, was caught red-handed while taking Rs. 18,000 from a complainant.

According to the spokesperson, the ACB received a written complaint alleging that the complainant was stopped by a police naka party at Badihar Bridge while driving a load carrier from Mati to Badihar. Although the vehicle was searched and documents checked, the police did not return the papers and instead asked him to report to Police Station Larnoo.

When the complainant visited the police station, he met the SPO, who allegedly demanded Rs. 30,000 for the release of the documents. The amount was later reduced to Rs. 25,000 during a phone conversation and eventually settled at Rs. 18,000, the spokesperson said.

Refusing to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB for legal action. “On receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted, which confirmed the demand,” the spokesperson said, adding that a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was registered at ACB Police Station Anantnag.

A trap team was subsequently formed, and the official was apprehended while accepting the bribe amount. The money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses, the spokesperson added.

The ACB also conducted searches at the accused’s residence in the presence of an executive magistrate and independent witnesses. Further investigation into the case is underway, the spokesperson said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar