‘BDC member arrested while accepting bribe’

Srinagar, Jan 5: The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested a Block Development Council (BDC) member while accepting bribe on Friday.

A statement of the ACB issued here said that the complainant approached Anti Corruption Bureau with a written complaint against a government employees including District Mineral Officer Ganderbal, Majid Aziz, and BDC member Gowhar Ahmad Reshi, alleging demand of bribe for issuance of disposal permit.

The statement said that it was alleged that the complainant was an authorised material supplier and sought disposal permit from DMO Ganderbal after completing all procedural formalities.

“However, the issuance of permit was delayed on one or the other pretext. When he approached DMO Ganderbal Majid Aziz, the complainant was asked to visit BDC member Gowhat Ahmad and do whatever he demands. The complainant accordingly approached Gowhar Ahmad who demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 for the issuance of document out of which Rs 10,000 was to be paid in advance today,” the ACB statement said.

It said that the complainant chose not to pay bribe and instead approached Anti-Corruption Bureau for taking legal action against the accused public servant as provided under law.

The statement said that on receipt of the complaint, a case FIR No 01/2024 under Section 7 PC Act 1988 was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar and investigation taken up.

“During the investigation, a trap team was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and caught the accused BDC member red handed while demanding and accepting bribe amount of Rs 10,000 from the complainant. The money was recovered from the accused on spot. The accused has been identified as a BDC member, Gowhar Ahmad Reshi, son of Sonaullah Reshi of Safapora Ganderbal. The role of DMO Majid Aziz in the matter is being investigated,” the ACB statement said.