ACB books DDC member, his tout in bribery case

Srinagar, Jul 1: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Srinagar has registered a case against District Development Council (DDC) member and his tout for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh in exchange for arranging official NOCs for a local school.
In a statement, ACB spokesman said that its Srinagar wing has registered a case under FIR number 12/2025 under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended 2018), section 61(2) BNS against a sitting District Development Council (DDC) member Mohammad Shaban Chopan, S/o Ghulam Qadir Chopan, R/o Dara Harwan, and his Tout Ghulam Mohammad Khathana, S/o Mukeem Khathana, R/o Dara Harwan, for demanding illegal gratification in lieu of arranging official clearances.
The case was registered on the basis of a written complaint received by this P/S against BDC member Mohammad Shaban Chopan, S/o Ghulam Qadir Chopan, R/o Dara Harwan, and his a tout Ghulam Mohammad Khathana, S/o Mukeem Khathana, R/o Dara Harwan, demanded a bribe of Rs 5,00,000/- from him for facilitating the issuance of required No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for his Scholars Boarding school established at Dara, the statements reads.
It added that the complainant further alleged that the DDC Member managed an official inspection of his premises as a means to exert pressure and create a false ground for demanding the bribe. An initial instalment of Rs 50,000 along with Blank sign Cheque was demanded as part of the total bribe amount.
The allegations were discreetly verified by ACB, and the verification confirmed the authenticity of the claims made in the complaint. The verification report clearly established demand of bribe by the public representative through his tout, it reads.
Accordingly, the ACB said that a case under FIR number 12/2025 under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and section 61(2) BNS was registered in Police Station ACB Srinagar, and further investigation is underway. (KNO)