ACB Arrests KPDCL Cashier for Demanding Rs 9,000 Bribe in North Kashmir
Srinagar, May 27: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has arrested a cashier from the office of the Executive Engineer, KPDCL sub transmission division Sopore, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 9,000. The arrest took place following a complaint from an aggrieved party, leading to a sting operation that caught the cashier red-handed.
In an official statement released to the wattan daily, the ACB spokesperson detailed the circumstances leading to the arrest. The complaint was filed against Mohd Shafi Bhat, a senior assistant-cum-cashier in the KPDCL Sopore office. The complaint alleged that Bhat had demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 to release a security deposit amounting to Rs 15,560.
The complainant, who runs a firm named M/S Print Plus in Hazratbal, Srinagar, had supplied stationary items and logbooks to the KPDCL office in Sopore back in 2021. While the department had cleared the bill for the supplied items, the security deposit remained unpaid. Despite repeated requests for the release of this amount, the complainant alleged that Bhat kept delaying the process.
Frustrated by the delays, the complainant approached the ACB with evidence of the bribe demand. He claimed that Bhat had finally demanded Rs 10,000 to process the release of the security deposit. Armed with this proof, he filed a written complaint requesting legal action against the cashier.
The ACB found the complaint to disclose a prima facie case of an offense punishable under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. Consequently, FIR No. 09/2024 under section 7 of the P.C Act was registered, and an investigation was launched.
During the investigation, Bhat was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe from the complainant. The arrest was made following due legal procedures, and the bribe amount was recovered from Bhat’s possession in the presence of independent witnesses.
The accused cashier was immediately taken into custody, and the ACB ensured that all legal formalities were meticulously followed. This swift action underscores the ACB’s commitment to tackling corruption within public offices.
Further investigations into the case are ongoing, with the ACB determined to uncover any additional irregularities and ensure accountability. The bureau’s proactive approach serves as a warning to other public servants about the consequences of engaging in corrupt practices.
