STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday conducted successful trap operations and arrested four government officials, including two PWD employees, a Patwari, and an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Police, in three separate bribery cases registered at ACB Police Stations in Udhampur and Rajouri. These arrests were made following verified complaints from aggrieved citizens who refused to pay illegal gratification and approached the Bureau for legal action.
An ACB official said, “The Bureau is committed to rooting out corruption at all levels of administration. Public servants who misuse their official position to demand bribes will be dealt with strictly under the law. We encourage citizens to report any such illegal demands without fear.”
In the first case, ACB Udhampur received a complaint alleging that Anil Jamwal, Junior Assistant posted in the office of the Superintending Engineer, PWD R&B Udhampur, and Jeet Kumar, Computer Operator in the office of the Executive Engineer, PWD R&B Udhampur, demanded Rs 12,000 as bribe for issuance of a contractor card.
The complainant, unwilling to pay, approached the ACB. After discreet verification confirmed the demand, FIR No. 02/2026 was registered under Section 07 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 61(2) of BNS, 2023 at PS ACB Udhampur.
A trap team led by a Dy. SP-rank officer was constituted. The accused officials were caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 12,000 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 Rajouri received a complaint against ASI Zamurat Manhas of Police Station Mendhar. It was alleged that he demanded Rs 5,000 as bribe from the complainant to settle a financial dispute with one Abdul Qayoom.
The complainant further alleged that the ASI threatened to book him under the Public Safety Act (PSA) if he failed to pay the bribe. On this basis, FIR No. 01/2026 was registered at PS ACB Rajouri.
During a planned trap operation, ASI Zamurat Manhas was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 5,000 as bribe. He was arrested on the spot, and subsequent searches were conducted at his residential premises in Mendhar, Surankote, and Jammu.
In the third case, ACB Rajouri received a written complaint against Patwari Mohd. Razaq, posted at Patwar Halqa Sokar/Prori, Koteranka. The complainant alleged that the Patwari demanded Rs 10,000 for recording the names of his three daughters in the revenue record (Khasra Girdawari). Since the complainant did not want to pay illegal gratification, he approached ACB Rajouri, leading to registration of FIR No. 02/2026.
A trap team from PS ACB Rajouri caught Mohd. Razaq red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 10,000 as bribe. He was arrested on the spot, and searches were conducted at his residential premises as part of the investigation.
The ACB official added, “These operations reflect our firm resolve to combat corruption. No one, irrespective of position or department, is above the law. The Bureau will continue to take strict action against corrupt officials.”
Further investigations in all three cases are underway, and additional action will be taken based on evidence gathered.
