Srinagar, Apr 07: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday said it has trapped and arrested two officials of the PWD (R&B) Mechanical Division, North Kashmir, Baramulla, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹13,000 to release a pending payment.
An official spokesperson said that a telephonic complaint was received on April 6 through the ACB helpline from a complainant working as a manager of a private firm registered on the GeM portal.
The complainant stated that his firm had participated in a tender floated by the PWD (R&B) Mechanical Division, North Kashmir, Baramulla, for supplying a customised vehicle for live fish transportation. The firm was declared L1 and the vehicle was delivered to the Department of Fisheries, Bandipora.
Despite completion of all formalities, including submission of bills on the GeM portal and hard copies to the department, the payment was allegedly withheld deliberately.
The complainant alleged that Mushtaq Ahmad, Senior Assistant, and Farooq Ahmad, Junior Assistant, of the Mechanical Division demanded a bribe of ₹13,000 for releasing the payment.
“Upon receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted, which prima facie substantiated the allegations. Accordingly, FIR No. 01/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), read with Section 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, was registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla and investigation was initiated,” the spokesperson said.
During the investigation, an ACB team laid a successful trap and caught both the accused officials red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe from the complainant. They were taken into custody on the spot after completion of legal formalities.
Further investigation in the case is underway.
The ACB reiterated that both giving and taking bribe is a punishable offence and urged citizens to report corruption through its toll-free helpline 1800-180-7152, WhatsApp number 9419678060, Satark Nagrik mobile app, or email. (KDC)
