Srinagar, Aug 20 : The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a Junior Building Inspector of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ?10,000 from a complainant, officials said on Thursday.
A written complaint was received by the ACB alleging that Gazala Akhter, Junior Building Inspector, SMC Ward No. 28, Srinagar, had sought illegal gratification from the complainant in connection with the construction of two structures, an official spokesperson said.
It was further alleged that despite the complainant having already obtained the requisite building permission from the competent authority, the accused public servant was deliberately adopting delaying tactics by obstructing the ongoing construction and causing harassment to force the complainant to pay the demanded amount, the spokesperson added.
Upon receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted which prima facie substantiated the allegations, officials said. Subsequently, FIR No. 11/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar and investigation was taken up.
During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and apprehended the accused public servant red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe of ?10,000 from the complainant, the spokesperson said.
The bribe amount was recovered from her possession in the presence of independent witnesses, and she was taken into custody, officials said.
Further investigation in the case is in progress, they added.(KNS)
