Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 23: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today trapped and arrested a Junior Assistant, Social Welfare Department, Sopore for demanding a bribe for the release of financial assistance in favour of a handicapped person.
The ACB said that it received a complaint alleging therein that Bashir Ahmad working as a clerk in the tehsil social welfare office, Sopore was demanding a bribe from the complainant for release of financial assistance.
The complainant, a resident of Adipora, Sopore has stated that his wife is a disabled person and “was getting financial assistance from Social Welfare Department. The financial assistance was stopped a few years back. He contacted tehsil social welfare office Sopore.
ACB said that the complainant was informed to get a fresh medical certificate.
“On this, the complainant submitted the fresh medical certificate. Despite submitting the requisite documents the financial assistance was not restored by the concerned officials. He constantly kept on visiting the Tehsil Social Welfare office for the restoration of financial assistance.”
The Bureau said that Bashir Ahmad, Jr. Asstt demanded a bribe of Rs 5000 for processing his case.
“The complainant requested Bashir Ahmad to have mercy on him as he is poor and not in a position to pay the bribe money. But Bashir Ahmad paid no heed to the request of the complainant,” ACB said adding that on this, the complainant approached ACB and requested action.
As the contents of the complaint prima facie disclose the commission of an offense punishable U/S 7 of the PC Act 1988 by accused public servant namely Bashir Ahmad, a clerk in Tehsil Social Welfare Office Sopore, ACB said, accordingly a Case FIR No. 16/2022 is registered in Police Station Anti Corruption Bureau Baramulla and the investigation was started.
“Immediately after registration of the case trap teams were constituted. The team caught the accused official red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe from the complainant,” ACB said.
He was arrested on the spot by the ACB team and the bribe money was also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses.
“Searches were also conducted in the residence of the accused. It is pertinent to mention here that the accused was already facing trial in case FIR No. 22/2004 of PS VOK. This case pertains to ‘Misappropriation of Govt. funds for disbursement among the beneficiaries under National old-age pension scheme,” the ACB said.
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