Jammu, 10 April (H.S.): Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has trapped and arrested a Panchayat Secretary in Kulgam district while accepting Rs 5000 as bribe.

Officials said a complaint was received at Police Station Anti Corruption Bureau Anantnag, alleging therein that the Panchayat Secretary of Block Devsar, Shiekh Zada Irfan, a resident of Muniwara in Anantnag district, was demanding Rs 10000 from a person for clearing bills related to labour charges under MGNREGA works.

They said the amount was later negotiated and settled at Rs 5000 but the complainant refused to pay the bribe and approached the ACB for legal action.

After receiving the complaint, officials said, the ACB conducted a discreet verification, which confirmed the demand.

Subsequently, they said, a case FIR number 04/2026 under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) was registered at Police Station ACB Anantnag and investigation was initiated.

During the investigation, a trap team was constituted which successfully caught the accused red-handed while accepting the bribe amount of Rs 5000, officials said.

According to them, he was arrested on the spot and the bribe money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses.

Officials further said that a search of the accused’s residence was also conducted in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar