STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday trapped and arrested Manzoor Ahmad Ahanger, a clerk posted in the office of the Rural Engineering Wing (RDD), Anantnag, for demanding and accepting a bribe for releasing payment of a sanctioned bill.
According to an official spokesperson of the ACB, the bureau received a written complaint alleging that the complainant’s father had constructed irrigation Ladh and, after completion of the work, submitted the bill through the concerned channels. “It was alleged that the bill reached the office of the Rural Engineering Wing, Anantnag, where the concerned clerk, Manzoor Ahmad Ahanger, demanded an illegal gratification for releasing the payment,” the ACB official said.
The complainant, instead of succumbing to the demand, approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau for legal action. “On receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted, which confirmed the demand of bribe by the accused government employee,” the official added. Following verification, FIR No. 06/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was registered at Police Station ACB Anantnag, and investigation was initiated. A trap team was subsequently constituted, which successfully caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount.
“The accused was arrested on the spot, and the bribe money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap proceedings,” the ACB spokesperson stated. Later, a search of the residential house of the accused was carried out in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses, as part of the ongoing investigation.
The ACB reiterated its commitment to act firmly against corruption and urged citizens to report any demand for bribes without fear. Further investigation in the case is in progress.