Serial corruption exposed: 4 FIRs in 4 years
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: In yet another embarrassment for the Rural Development Department, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday trapped and arrested a Junior Engineer, already involved in multiple corruption cases, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 8,000.
The arrest has once again raised serious questions about alarming corruption within grassroots development offices and the failure of deterrence despite multiple FIRs.
The accused, Rahul Gandotra, Junior Engineer posted as Technical Assistant (TA) in the BDO Office, Gulabgarh, Mahore (District Reasi), was booked under FIR No. 03/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 at Police Station ACB Udhampur. Notably, this is the third corruption case registered against him, even as earlier FIRs are still under investigation.
According to the ACB, Gandotra demanded illegal gratification from a contractor for preparing and clearing a bill related to RDD works already executed. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB, prompting a discreet verification. The verification confirmed the demand, following which a formal case was registered and a trap laid.
A trap team led by a Dy. Superintendent of Police caught the accused red-handed and recovered the tainted money on the spot following due legal procedures. Subsequently, a search of his residential premises at House No. 215, Ward No. 24, Rehari Colony, Jammu, was conducted in the presence of a Magistrate.
What makes the case particularly grave is Gandotra’s long trail of corruption cases. He was earlier booked by ACB Udhampur in FIR No. 03/2022 (August 13, 2022) for misappropriation of government funds, along with several other RDD and REW officials, in connection with irregularities in development works.
He was again named in FIR No. 04/2022 (July 12, 2022) for misuse of official position and causing loss to the government exchequer while executing MGNREGA works during 2017-18 in Mahore, Reasi. The case involved manipulation of records, questionable beneficiaries and collusion among officials.
Another case, FIR No. 02/2023 (April 6, 2023), was registered against him for abuse of official position, along with engineers, village-level workers and other officials of the BDO Office Chassana.
Despite being repeatedly booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Gandotra allegedly continued to exploit his official position, culminating in his latest arrest.
ACB officials confirmed that three FIRs under the PC Act are already pending against the accused, and further investigation in the present case is underway.
The arrest has sparked fresh debate over accountability and internal monitoring in development departments, especially in rural and hilly areas where contractors and beneficiaries often allege harassment and bribe demands for routine official work.
The ACB has reiterated its appeal to the peole to report corruption and assured strict action against erring officials, irrespective of rank or past cases. Further investigation is in progress.
