ACB arrests JE, SO Electric Division Pantha Chowk for accepting bribe

Srinagar, Sep 17: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday said to have trapped and arrested JE & SO of Electric Division Pantha Chowk, Srinagar red-handed while accepting bribe of Rs. 50,000 for realignment of HT Line.
According to a statement, Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau received a written complaint from a complainant alleging therein that demand of bribe of Rs 50,000 by public servants namely Junior Engineer (JE) Shaiq Sultan Bhat and Section Officer (SO) Mohammad Ayoub Dar posted at Power Development Department, Electric Division Pantha Chowk for realignment electric pole installed in his property land situated at Sempora Pantha Chowk etc.
“Consequent upon the information and in order to verify the allegations leveled against the public servants, the matter was discreetly verified through a designated officer of ACB Srinagar,” the statement reads.
On the basis of contents of the complaint, findings and recommendations of verifying officer offence under Sections 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, read with Section 61(2) of the BNS are prima facie established against the accused public servants namely Junior Engineer Shaiq Sultan Bhat S/O Gh. Nabi Bhat, R/O Sanat Nagar, Srinagar, and Sectional Officer Mohammad Ayoub Dar, S/O Gh. Nabi Dar, R/O Sail, Tehsil Awantipora, District Pulwama, the statement added.
Accordingly, the spokesman said that a case under FIR number 18/2025 under Sections 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, read with Section 61(2) of the BNS at Police Station ACB Srinagar today and investigation was taken up.
“During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted and deputed to Pantha Chowk for laying a trap and to arrest these public servants involved in the commission of crime. The team laid a successful trap and both public servants were apprehended red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe of Rs 50000 from the complainant. The bribe money of Rs 50,000 was recovered on the spot from their possession,” the spokesman said, adding that further investigation into the case is going on. (KNO)