Kishtwar, Jun 1 : A forest guard was arrested on Monday for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 to expedite the release of security deposits for allotted works in Kishtwar district, officials said.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Vaseem Ahmad Hap, posted as a forest guard in the Forest Division Marwah, after a successful trap was laid, a spokesperson said.
A complaint was received alleging that the accused had demanded Rs 20,000 from the complainant, which was later negotiated down to Rs 15,000, the spokesperson said.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB, leading to a discreet verification that established a prima facie case, officials said.
An FIR was registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, at the ACB police station in Jammu.
The trap team caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount, which was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses, the spokesperson added.
Searches were later conducted at his residential premises in the presence of an executive magistrate. Further investigation is underway, officials said. (KNS)
