ACB arrests lineman for accepting bribe

Srinagar, Jul 11: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday said to have trapped and arrested a Lineman-II of PDD Sub Division Pattan, Baramulla for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5000.
“Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) received a written complaint alleging therein that Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, Lineman-II (designated as Meter Reader Panzinara) in the Power Development Department (PDD), Sub Division Pattan Baramulla demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000 from the complainant for processing fresh electricity connection to a newly residential house at Panzinara, Shalteng Srinagar,” a statement issued reads.
Since the complainant didn’t want to pay bribe, he approached ACB for taking legal action against the accused public servant under law, it reads.
“On receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification through designated officer was carried out. The verification report confirmed the allegations and accordingly, a case FIR No. 13/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended) was registered in Police Station ACB Srinagar and investigation was initiated,” ACB spokesman said.
During the course of investigation a trap team was constituted, he said, adding that the team laid a successful trap and caught the accused public servant Manzoor Ahmad Bhat R/o Buran Pattan Baramulla, Lineman-II (designated as Meter Reader Panzinara) in Power Development Department (PDD) Sub Division Pattan Baramulla red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of Rs 5,000 from the complainant at Panzinara Shalteng Srinagar.
“The accused was arrested on spot by the ACB team after following the due procedure of law. The bribe money was also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap team,” he said, adding that further investigation of the instant case is going on. (KNO)