Srinagar January 20 : Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau on Tuesday trapped and arrested four public officials, including PWD employees, a Patwari, and a police ASI, in three separate cases for demanding and accepting bribes. One case was registered at Police Station ACB Udhampur, while two cases were registered at Police Station ACB Rajouri.
In the first case, ACB received a complaint alleging that Anil Jamwal, Junior Assistant posted in the office of the Superintending Engineer PWD R and B Udhampur, and Jeet Kumar, Computer Operator posted in the office of the Executive Engineer PWD R and B Udhampur, demanded a bribe from the complainant for issuance of a contractor card. As the complainant did not want to pay the bribe, he approached the Anti Corruption Bureau for legal action.
After receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted, which confirmed the demand of bribe by the accused officials. Accordingly, FIR No. 02 of 2026 under Section 07 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and Section 61(2) BNS 2023 was registered at Police Station ACB Udhampur and investigation was taken up.
During investigation, a trap team headed by an officer of Dy SP rank was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and caught both accused red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe amount of rupees twelve thousand from the complainant in the presence of independent witnesses. The bribe money was recovered from their possession. Searches were also conducted at Ram Nagar and Laddan Power House Udhampur in the presence of a Magistrate.
In the second case, ACB received a complaint alleging that ASI Zamurat Manhas called the complainant to Police Station Mendhar on the complaint of one Abdul Qayoom regarding non return of money. The complainant sought time to return the money, which was agreed to by Abdul Qayoom. Thereafter, ASI Zamurat Manhas allegedly started demanding a bribe from the complainant to settle the matter and threatened to book him under PSA in case of non payment.
As the complainant is a poor person and did not want to pay illegal gratification, he lodged a written complaint at Police Station ACB Rajouri. Accordingly, FIR No. 01 of 2026 was registered and investigation was taken up. A trap team caught ASI Zamurat Manhas red handed while demanding and accepting rupees five thousand as bribe. He was arrested on the spot. Searches were subsequently conducted at his residential premises at Mendhar, Surankote, and Jammu.
In the third case, ACB received a written complaint stating that the complainant approached Patwari Mohd. Razaq, posted in Patwar Halqa Sokar Prori Koteranka, for recording the names of his three daughters in the revenue record. The Patwari allegedly demanded a bribe for recording the names in Khasra Girdwari.
As the complainant did not want to give illegal gratification, he lodged a complaint at Police Station ACB Rajouri. Accordingly, FIR No. 02 of 2026 was registered and investigation initiated. ACB Rajouri team caught Mohd. Razaq red handed while demanding and accepting rupees ten thousand as bribe. He was arrested on the spot and searches were conducted at his residential premises.
Further investigation in all three cases is in progress.(KSN)
