Srinagar, Jan 05: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday said it apprehended two senior government officials for demanding and accepting a bribe.
The ACB in a statement said it received a complaint against public servants, Majid Aziz, District Mineral Officer (DMO) Ganderbal, and Gowhar Ahmad Reshi, BDC Member, accusing them of demanding a bribe for the issuance of a disposal permit.
The complainant, an authorized material supplier, alleged that despite completing all procedural formalities, the issuance of the disposal permit was deliberately delayed, the probe agency said. Upon approaching DMO Ganderbal, Majid Aziz reportedly directed the complainant to BDC member Gowhar Ahmad, instructing to comply with whatever demands he made.
Gowhar Ahmad allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 for the issuance of the document, with an advance payment of Rs 10,000 due on Friday, the ACB said. Refusing to pay the bribe, the complainant promptly reported the matter to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, seeking legal action against the accused public servants.
Upon receiving the complaint, the ACB registered a case FIR No. 01/2024 U/S 7 PC Act 1988 at PS ACB Srinagar and initiated an investigation. A trap team was formed, successfully apprehending Gowhar Ahmad Reshi red-handed while accepting the bribe amount of Rs 10,000. The money was recovered on the spot.
Gowhar Ahmad Reshi, identified as the BDC Member and resident of Safapora Ganderbal, is now under investigation, and the role of DMO Majid Aziz is also being scrutinized, the Bureau said.
The ACB has urged the public not to pay bribes to any public servant and encourages reporting any such demands promptly. The investigation into the case is ongoing, the Bureau said.
