Excelsior Correspondent
REASI, May 30: Anti-Corruption Bureau today arrested a Block Forest Officer and a Forest Guard for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 15000.
The accused, identified as Sat Pal, I/c Block Forest Officer, Thakrakote, Reasi and Abneet Kumar, Forest Guard, Beat Narla Bambal, Reasi had demanded bribe from the complainant for settlement of a case pertaining to alleged cutting of a tree from forest.
Anti Corruption Bureau received a complaint against Abneet Kumar, presently posted at Beat Bharakh with additional charge of Beat Narla Bambal. In the complaint, the complainant said that he had taken one dry fallen Chir tree from the forest and after few days, Munshi of PP Taryath contacted him and informed that Forest Guard Abneet Kumar had lodged a complaint against him for cutting/taking of tree from the forest without permission. When the complainant met Munshi of PP Teryath, he told him to settle the matter with the Forest Guard. When the complainant contacted Forest Guard through another persons, he demanded Rs 22,000 as bribe for withdrawing application and settlement. On this the complainant approached ACB and lodged complaint in Police Station ACB Rajouri for taking legal action against the said Forest Guard.
After verification, ACB Rajouri registered FIR number 02/2023 and constituted a trap team. However, during the trap proceedings, another forest official Sat Pal, I/c Block Officer Thakrakote was also found involved in the conspiracy with the said Forest Guard Abneet Kumar. They were caught red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complainant. Both of them were arrested on the spot after completing necessary legal formalities.
Later, searches were also conducted in the houses of the accused persons situated at Pouni, Reasi and Gurha Jagir, Akhnoor.
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