Anti-Corruption Court Doda convicts two R&B Engineers in trap case

Doda, Sep 18: The Anti-Corruption Court Doda convicted two Engineers of Roads and Building (R&B) department in a trap case.

In a statement, an official spokesman said that the Judge, Anti-Corruption Court Doda, Archana Charak, convicted two Engineers—Syed Ikhlaq Hussain Peer, AEE, and Raja Faisal, JE—both then posted in PWD (R&B) West Sub Division Doda, in FIR No. 14/2011 under Section 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and Sections 120-B & 161 RPC registered at Police Station VOJ (now ACB).

The court sentenced each accused to rigorous imprisonment for one year and a fine of Rs 10,000 under Section 120-B RPC; rigorous imprisonment for one year and a fine of Rs 10,000 under Section 161 RPC; and rigorous imprisonment for one year and a fine of Rs 10,000 under Section 5(2) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006.

"The case was registered on the complaint of a contractor who had completed blacktopping work on the Doda–Ganeka road. While 75% payment had been released, the accused officers demanded illegal gratification of Rs 45,000 for the release of the remaining amount, thereby harassing the complainant," the statement reads.

It added that a trap was accordingly laid at Doda City, during which Raja Faisal, JE, was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs 45,000 in the presence of independent witnesses.

He was arrested on the spot, and further investigation revealed the involvement of Syed Ikhlaq Hussain Peer, AEE.

After completion of investigation, a charge sheet was filed before the Court, which, after trial, convicted both accused and awarded the above sentence, the statement added—(KNO)