Srinagar, Mar 28: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday arrested an Executive Engineer of the Jal Shakti (PHE) Mechanical Division South Awantipora for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe.
According to an official statement, Manzoor Ahmad Dar, Executive Engineer, was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹12,000 from a complainant.
“The ACB received a written complaint alleging that the Executive Engineer was demanding a bribe of ₹20,000 for clearing bills related to Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) works, out of which ₹8,000 had already been paid and ₹12,000 was to be paid after clearance,” the statement said.
The complainant, instead of paying the remaining bribe, approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau for legal action.
“On receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted which confirmed the demand, following which a case FIR No. 02/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) was registered at Police Station ACB Anantnag and investigation was initiated,” the statement added.
During the investigation, a trap team was constituted, which successfully laid a trap and apprehended the accused officer red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount.
“The accused, identified as Manzoor Ahmad Dar S/o Ghulam Mohammad Dar R/o Dafpora Budgam, was arrested on the spot and the bribe money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses,” the statement said.
Subsequently, searches were conducted at the residential houses of the accused in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses.
Further investigation into the case is underway, the statement added.
