Anantnag: The Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Anantnag, presided over by Masarat Roohi, has convicted Habibullah Kumar, then Junior Assistant in the Rural Development Department, in a corruption trap case dating back to 2009.
The case stems from FIR No. 25/2009 registered under Section 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act at Police Station Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (now Anti-Corruption Bureau).
According to the prosecution, on September 10, 2009, a complaint was filed by Bashir Ahmad Dar, a helper at the Block Development Office (BDO) Larkipora, Anantnag. The complainant alleged that after being granted in-situ promotion along with five other helpers, he approached Habibullah Kumar, then in-charge of establishment, for preparation of arrear bills. Kumar allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹1,800 for processing the bills.
Acting on the complaint, a trap was laid by Vigilance Organisation Kashmir, during which the accused was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe money. After completion of investigation, a charge sheet was filed before the competent court.
Upon examining prosecution witnesses and hearing both the Special Public Prosecutor and the defence counsel, the court found the accused guilty. In her judgment delivered on August 21, 2025, Special Judge Masarat Roohi convicted Habibullah Kumar under Section 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act.
The court sentenced him to two years of simple imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹21,000. In case of default in payment of the fine, Kumar will have to undergo an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
The prosecution in the case was conducted by Special Public Prosecutor Ajaz Ahmad Parvaiz, Chief Prosecuting Officer of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.