STATE TIMES NEWS
Jammu: The sleuths of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested one Showkat Ahmad, a Technical Assistant, Block Development Office, Arina in Bandipora and his associate Irfan Yusuf for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant. As per an official spokesperson, the ACB received a complaint from a resident of village Sumlar, Bandipora alleging therein that he and his father had executed work in their village titled ‘development of playfield by way of earth cutting and construction of retaining walls’ under Block Development Office, Arina, Bandipora. He further alleged that concerned Technical Assistant of BDO Arina namely Showkat Ahmad released only a part payment of their bill of Rs 4,10,000 and demanded bribe of Rs 20,000 for release of remaining amount. It was also alleged that both father & son requested concerned officer several times for releasing remaining amount, but he remained adamant not to release remaining amount without getting bribe of Rs 20,000, he added. “ACB registered a case under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 as prima facie made out in complaint against accused public servant namely Manzoor Ahmad and started investigations. Accordingly, a trap team led by DySP Rank officer & independent witnesses caught accused officer Showkat Ahmad alongwith his tout Irfan Yousaf while demanding and accepting bribe from complainant. Both were arrested on the spot and bribe amount was also recovered from them in presence of independent witnesses,” the official said, adding that further investigation is going on.