STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday arrested Jyoti Devi, Corporator, Ward No 53 of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) along with her husband Sham Lal, while accepting bribe of Rs 10,000 from a contractor for issuing Mulba Clearance Certificate.
As per an official spokesperson, the ACB received a written complaint with the complainant stating that he is a contractor by profession and was allotted work for upgradation of open area along main road near Mastermind Classes by Pre-cast of paver tiles and upgradation of open area along main road near Easy Day at Ward No 53, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu.
The complainant further stated after completing work, for getting final payment, he approached the Corporator, Ward No 53, Jyoti Devi of BJP for issuance of necessary Mulba Clearance Certificate. But she demanded Rs 10,000 as bribe for issuance of the same and asked complainant to contact her husband for payment of bribe,” the official said.
On receiving complaint, allegations were verified and consequently, FIR 10/2022 under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 and 120-B of IPC was registered at Police Station ACB-Jammu, the official said. “A trap team was constituted which caught accused Sham Lal, husband of Corporator, Ward No 53 Jyoti Devi, red handed while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 10,000 on behalf of his wife. The couple was taken into custody on the spot and searches were carried out at their house,” he said, adding that further investigation is going on.
According to sources, there are already a number of complaints against Corporator Jyoti Devi and her husband Sham Lal. The residents of Trikuta Nagar allege that the couple used to demand money for works related to construction even from the ward residents, who voted and supported Jyoti Devi in in the Municipal elections.
“This time her husband harassed a contractor, who approached the Anti Corruption Bureau. On the name of JMC officers, the couple was creating troubles for this contractor,” said the residents of JMC Ward No: 53, “demanding strict action against the couple and sought the intervention of LG Manoj Sinha to order an inquiry so that the residents could apprise the ACB and the government about more corrupt practices of the couple.”
A senior citizen said, being the public representative, the woman Corporater Jyoti Devi and her husband Sham Lal were minting money in the name of JMC officers.
“We are grateful to ACB for stern and prompt action on a complaint.” he said.