ACB nabs Rural Development Official for bribery in Bandipora
Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has sprung into action following a complaint lodged by a resident of Block Arin, District Bandipora, against Abdul Rashid, a Graw Sewak (GRS) of the Rural Development Department.
“The complaint alleges that Rashid demanded a bribe of ₹6,000 for facilitating the geo-tagging of the plinth area of an under-construction house site, part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G) scheme,” said an ACB official.
“According to the complaint, the individual’s case under the PMAY-G scheme was sanctioned in 2023, with an initial installment of ₹50,000 received through their bank account from the Rural Development Department. After completing the plinth of the house, further installments were sought. However, during a recent visit to the Block Development Office (BDO) in Arin, officials indicated that geo-tagging was required for processing the case for the release of the second installment. It was during this process that Rashid allegedly demanded a bribe,” the official said.
“On April 21, 2024, Rashid purportedly visited the construction site and demanded ₹10,000 from the complainant. Eventually, the deal was settled at ₹6,000, with ₹2,500 to be paid on April 22, and the remaining amount upon receipt of the second installment,” he said.
The official further said: “With these accusations, the complainant sought legal recourse from the ACB, citing a violation of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. Consequently, Case FIR No. 05/2024 was registered at the Police Station, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Baramulla, under section 7 of the P.C Act 1988 (along with its amendment Act 2018), prompting an immediate investigation.”
“A trap team was assembled as part of the investigation, which successfully apprehended Rashid red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹2,500 from the complainant. Following due legal process, Rashid was taken into custody, and the bribe money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses,” he added.
Kashmir Images is an English language daily newspaper published from Srinagar (J&K), India. The newspaper is one of the largest circulated English dailies of Kashmir and its hard copies reach every nook and corner of Kashmir Valley besides Jammu and Ladakh region.
