STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has trapped and arrested Junio Engineer (JE) Arshid Ayoub Marazi of Rural Development Department for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 5000 for processing and preparing bill of the work executed by a contractor.
An information was received by Anti Corruption Bureau J&K on its Helpline Number 9419678060 from one complainant, resident of village Kunnel Qaziabad, Handwara District Kupwara alleging that he has executed some work under MG-NREGA and for preparing and processing the bill of the work and for preparing labour demand J.E Arshid Ayoub Marazi and GR Suboor Mir were demanding bribe of Rs. 5000 and Rs 3000 from him as their commission etc.
On receipt of this information, a discreet verification into the matter was conducted by ACB to ascertain the veracity of allegations during which it was found that the complainant, a resident of village Kunnel Panchayat Halqa Rangpath B Dist. Kupwara was authorized last year by Panchayat to execute two developmental works – Improvement of road from Chainag to Ashoponor, and filling and leveling of grave yard near Jamia Masjid Kunnel and that the complainant had completed both the works for which department initially gave him some amount under Labour Head but full labour payment was not given to him.
It was also found that on completion of the works, the complainant, a contractor, requested J.E concerned to prepare the bill of both the works but he demanded bribe of RS 5000 as commission and it was also found that GRS was also demanding bribe of Rs 3000 from the complainant as his commission for preparing labour demand .Discreet probe also revealed that both these officials used to take bribe from the complainant through m-pay as well as cash on earlier occasions also and were demanding more bribe for final bill and labour demand. As the complainant was not interested in paying the birbe to these officials, he accordingly approached ACB through helpline number and with written complaint subsequently. Under these circumstances the complainant approached ACB and requested for legal action against both these officials JE as well as GRS for demanding bribe from him, according to a statement by the ACB.
Accordingly on the basis of the findings and recommendation of the Verifying Officer on March 14, 2024, prima facie offence U/S 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 (as amended in 2018) and section 120-B IPC were made out against accused Public servants namely Arshid Ayoub Marazi, JE and GR Suboor Mir both officials of Rural Development Department Kralgund Handwara for demanding and accepting bribe from the complainant for processing and preparing his bill and putting demand for remaining labour payments case FIR No 02-2024 U/S 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 (as amended in 2018) and Section 120-B IPC was registered at PS ACB Baramulla and investigations were initiated.
During the course of investigation a trap team was constituted which laid a successful trap and caught the accused JE red handed while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 5000 from complainant. The bribe money was later recovered from possession of the accused as well as one shopkeeper to whom he had given the money in presence of independent witnesses .The accused public servants was arrested on the spot after completing all legal formalities. The role of GRS amd other officials in the case is being investigated.
Further investigation in the case is going on.
The ACB has urged the general public that in case of any information regarding corrupt activities of Govt. officials, please inform us on Toll Free Number 1800 180 7152, Whatsapp Number 9419678060, email ID [email protected] or through Satrik Nagrik Android Mobile Application.
