Jammu, Mar 27: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday registered a formal case against two officials of the Forest Department in Rajouri district and arrested them for allegedly demanding and accepting bribe.
According to an official statement, a case vide FIR No. 04/2026 was registered at Police Station ACB Rajouri under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) against Md. Zaman, Forest Guard, and Ajaz Ahmed, Forester, posted in Forest Department Bakori, Rajouri.
“The case was registered on the basis of a complaint alleging that the complainant was digging a septic tank and underground tank on his land where his house is already constructed,” the statement said.
It added that on March 13, 2026, Md. Zaman visited the complainant’s house and stopped the work on the pretext that the land falls under the Forest Department.
“The complainant informed that the land belonged to him, but the accused did not pay heed and demanded a bribe of ₹50,000, threatening to stop the work if the amount was not paid,” the statement said.
“Under fear and pressure, the complainant paid ₹30,000, which was transferred to the account provided by the accused officials. However, they continued to harass and pressurise him for an additional ₹10,000,” it added.
Following continued harassment, the complainant approached ACB Rajouri and lodged a written complaint seeking legal action against the officials.
“After registration of the case, a trap team was constituted by ACB P/S Rajouri, which successfully caught both accused red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹7,000 from the complainant,” the statement said.
Both the accused — Md. Zaman and Ajaz Ahmed — were arrested on the spot.
“Subsequently, searches were also conducted at the residential houses of the accused persons in Rajouri,” the statement added.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
