Srinagar, Jan 5: Anti-corruption Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir, Friday said to have arrested a Block Development Council member for demanding and accepting bribes in Ganderbal district.
“A complainant approached Anti Corruption Bureau with a written complaint against public servants namely Majid Aziz, District Mineral Officer Ganderbal and Gowhar Ahmad Reshi, BDC Member, alleging demand of bribe for issuance of disposal permit. It was alleged that the complainant is an authorized material supplier and sought disposal permit from DMO Ganderbal after completing all procedural formalities. However, the issuance of permit was delayed on one or the other pretext. When he approached DMO Ganderbal Majid Aziz, the complainant was asked to visit BDC member Gowhar Ahmad and do whatever he demands”, said an ACB spokesman in a statement.
The complainant, the statement reads, accordingly approached Gowhar Ahmad who demanded a bribe of ₹50,000 for the issuance of document out of which ₹10,000 was to be paid in advance today.
“The complainant chose not to pay bribe and instead approached Anti-Corruption Bureau for taking legal action against the accused public servant as provided under law. On receipt of the complaint, a Case FIR No. 01/2024 U/S 7 PC Act 1988 was registered at PS ACB Srinagar and investigation taken up”, reads the statement adding that during the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted.
The team, the statement reads, laid a successful trap and caught the accused BDC member red handed while demanding and accepting bribe amount of ₹10,000 from the complainant. The money was recovered from the accused on the spot.
The accused has been identified as Gowhar Ahmad Reshi son of Sonaullah Reshi resident of Safapora Ganderbal, BDC Member, and the role of DMO Majid Aziz in the matter is being investigated.
“Further investigation into the case is going on”, reads the statement.
“ACB J&K has appealed to people not to pay bribes to any public servant and in the event of demand of bribes by any public servant, approach ACB J&K”, the statement reads.(GNS)
