STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday arrested Mohammed Shafi Bhat, Senior Assistant /Cashier in the office of Executive Engineer, Kashmir Power Development Corporation Limited (KPDCL) Sub Transmission Division, Sopore red handed while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 10000 from complainant for release of his security deposit.
According to an official statement, the Anti Corruption Bureau received a complaint against Mohd Shafi Bhat Sr. Assistant/Cashier, alleging therein that the official demand a bribe of Rs 10,000 for release of security amount to the tune of Rs 15560.
It was alleged by the complainant in his complaint that he is running a Firm namely M/S Print Plus at Hazratbal Srinagar and in the year 2021 he had supplied stationary items and log books to the office of Executive Engineer, KPDCL, Sopore for which the Bill payment against the supplied items was made by the Department but the security deposit amount of Rs 15,560 is pending with the KPDCL, Sopore.
He further alleged that he approached for the release of security amount many a times but one cashier Mohd. Shafi kept delaying same on one pretext or other and finally demanded Rs 10000 as bribe from him for doing so and that he has collected proof against the said cashier regarding demand of bribe. Under these circumstances he approached ACB with written complaint, requesting for legal action against the Cashier for demand of bribe.
As the contents of complaint prima facie disclosed the commission of offence punishable under section 7 of the P.C Act 1988 (r/w its amendment Act 2018) by the accused public servant, namely Mohd Shafi, Cashier in the office of the Executive Engineer, KPDCL Sub Transmission Division Sopore District Baramulla, a Case FIR No. 09/2024 under section 7 of the P.C Act 1988 (r/w its amendment Act 2018) was registered against him at Police Station, Anti Corruption Bureau, Baramulla and investigations were initiated.
During the course of investigations the accused public servant was caught red handed while demanding and accepting bribe from the complainant by a specially constituted team of ACB headed by a DySP rank officer. He was immediately taken into custody after completing the legal formalities the bribe amount was also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses.
Further investigations in the case are going on.
The ACB has urged the general public to desist from paying bribe to any government servant and in case of any demand from any government servant, they can immediately contact ACB on its given helpline number 9419678060 or e-mail on director.vigilance@jk.gov.in for legal action.