Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday caught two officials of the Power Development Department red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 at Sempora on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Officials identified those arrested as a Junior Engineer (JE) Shaiq Sultan Bhat, and Section Officer (SO) Mohammad Ayoub Dar, posted at the Power Development Department, Electric Division Pantha Chowk.
Acting on a complaint that these officials were demanding bribes for realignment of an electric pole installed in the complainant’s land at Sempora Pantha Chowk, an ACB team laid a trap and apprehended the duo while they were allegedly demanding and receiving the bribe amount.
The two accused were immediately taken into custody, and the bribe money was seized on the spot in the presence of independent witnesses, officials said.
“Both officials were trapped and arrested red-handed while accepting the bribe. They have been taken into custody, and further investigation is going on,” an ACB officer confirmed.
The case is being investigated to determine the extent of corruption and to identify whether more officials are involved in the alleged malpractice. The ACB has not ruled out the possibility of wider irregularities in the division.
