ACB arrests Scientist-B of PCB Srinagar for accepting bribe

Srinagar, Jan 8: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) Monday said to have trapped and arrested Dr. Bilquees Ara Siddiqui, Scientist-B of State Pollution Control Board, Srinagar for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 5,000.
According to a statement, the Anti Corruption Bureau received a written complaint against Dr. Bilquees Ara, Scientist-B in State Pollution Control Board for demanding bribe for issuance of ‘Consent To Operate’ (CTO) for a bakery unit located at Industrial Estate, Khunmoh.
The complainant in his complaint alleged that he had applied for ‘Consent To Operate’ (CTO) from Pollution Control Board in the month of Nov-2023. “His application was pending with Dr. Bilquees (accused) who was unnecessarily delaying the matter. It was further alleged that on 6th of this month, the complainant visited the accused at PCB office and requested her to process his case,” it added.
The statement said that she demanded Rs 20,000 as bribe from the complainant for issuance of CTO. However, after negotiation the amount was settled as Rs 5,000.
“The complainant chose not to pay a bribe and instead approached Anti Corruption Bureau for taking legal action against the accused public servant as provided under law. On receipt of the complaint, a Case FIR No. 02/2024 U/S 7 PC Act 1988 was registered with PS ACB Srinagar and investigation taken up,” the statement said.
During the course of investigation, the statement said that a trap team was constituted. “The team laid a successful trap and caught the accused public servant red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe amount of Rs 5,000 from the complainant. The money was recovered from the accused on the spot.”
The accused has been identified as Dr. Bilquees Ara Siddiqui D/o Ghulam Nabi R/o Sarnal (Gulshan Abad) Anantnag, working in Pollution Control Board as Scientist-B. Further investigation into the case is going on, the statement said.