Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 1: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today caught Sarpanch Manigam-A red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 9,000.
The action followed a complainant approaching the ACB with a written complaint, accusing the public servant of demanding a bribe to settle a property dispute.
In a statement issued here, the ACB mentioned that a complainant lodged a written complaint against Muzaffar Ahmad Rather, Sarpanch Manigam-A, alleging that he demanded a bribe for settling a property dispute between the complainant and his sister.
“The two siblings had a property dispute, and the complainant’s sister approached the accused Sarpanch for resolution. The complainant alleged that the Sarpanch had repeatedly demanded bribes from him to settle the issue,” ACB said.
Initially, according to the ACB, the Sarpanch demanded Rs 20,000, but after negotiations, he agreed to accept Rs 9,000 from the complainant.
“The complainant refused to pay the bribe and instead approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Srinagar to take legal action against the accused public servant as provided under the law.”
Upon receiving the complaint, the ACB registered Case FIR No. 13/2023 U/S 7 PC Act 1988 with PS ACB Srinagar and initiated an investigation.
During the investigation, the ACB formed a trap team, which successfully caught the accused public servant red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 9,000 from the complainant.
“The money was recovered from the accused on the spot. The accused, identified as Muzaffar Ahmad Rather, son of Wali Mohd Rather, resident of Manigam and serving as the Sarpanch of Manigam-A,” ACB said, adding that further investigation into the case is ongoing.
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