ACB arrests official for demanding, accepting bribe in Ganderbal

Ganderbal, June 24: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday said to have arrested Geology & Mining official while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 10,000.

"Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau received a written complaint, alleging demand of bribe by an official namely Gh Mustafa (D.H), in-charge of the area, Geology and Mining Department Ganderbal," ACB spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).

"The complainant, who owns a JCB machine, stated that he had approached the concerned official for guidance regarding the legal formalities for lifting soil from a particular land.

Instead of providing proper legal assistance, the said official allegedly told the complainant to avoid the lengthy formalities and demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 for granting unofficial permission to lift the soil for three days. He further demanded Rs 10,000 as an advance payment," the statement reads.

Acting on the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification through a designated officer. "The verification report confirmed the allegations and substantiated that the public servant had indeed demanded illegal gratification," the statement added.

On the basis of the complaint and verification report, a case under FIR number 10/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended) was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar. Subsequently, a trap team was constituted, and a successful trap was laid.

"During the trap operation, the accused public servant was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 10,000 from the complainant. He was immediately apprehended on the spot," the statement reads, adding that further investigation in the matter is ongoing.