Sopore, May 27 (KNB): The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has apprehended Mohd Shafi Bhat, a Senior Assistant/Cashier at the Executive Engineer’s office of KPDCL Sub Transmission Division in Sopore. Bhat stands accused of being caught red-handed while allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹9,000.
According to the statement, The arrest comes in the wake of a complaint lodged by a local businessman, who alleges that Bhat had demanded a bribe of ₹10,000 for the release of a security deposit amounting to ₹15,560. The complainant, proprietor of M/S Print Plus in Hazratbal, Srinagar, claims to have supplied stationary items and log books to the KPDCL office in 2021. Despite receiving payment for the supplied items, the security deposit remained withheld by the department.
According to the complainant, repeated attempts to secure the release of the security amount were allegedly met with delays and excuses by Bhat, who purportedly demanded a bribe. Armed with evidence of the demand, the complainant approached the ACB with a written complaint, urging legal action against Bhat.
Preliminary investigations led to the registration of a case (FIR No. 09/2024) under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 against Bhat at the Anti Corruption Bureau’s Police Station in Baramulla. Subsequent investigations allegedly led to Bhat’s arrest as he was purportedly caught red-handed accepting the bribe. The ACB led by a team headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), swiftly took him into custody, recovering the bribe amount in the presence of independent witnesses.
The ACB urges the general public to refrain from engaging in bribery and encourages prompt reporting of any such demands by government officials. Individuals can contact the ACB through its helpline number 9419678060 or via email at director.vigilance@jk.gov.in to initiate legal action against corrupt practices.-KNB