Srinagar, Mar 12 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday said it trapped and arrested a Technical Assistant in the Rural Development Department Jammu and Kashmir at Block Budgam for allegedly demanding and accepting a rupees 40,000 bribe for preparing and releasing bills related to work executed under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said the Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau today received a written complaint alleging that Sajad Ahmad Raina, Technical Assistant in the office of the Rural Development Department (RDD), Block Budgam, resident of Kralwari Budgam, was demanding a bribe of rupees 40,000 for preparation and release of bills in favour of the complainant for completion of work executed under the MGNREGA scheme.
He said, during the pre-trap verification, it was revealed that the accused public servant was insisting on payment of rupees 40,000 as bribe, which the complainant was unwilling to pay.
“The complainant arranged rupees 5,000 in cash and a cheque of rupees 35,000 and approached ACB. The verification confirmed the demand of bribe, accordingly FIR No. 06/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered at P/S ACB Srinagar, and investigation taken up.”
He said, during the course of investigation, a trap team constituted. The team laid a successful trap and caught the accused public servant red-handed in the office of RDD Block Budgam while demanding and accepting a bribe of rupees 5,000 in cash and a cheque of rupees 35,000 from the complainant.
“During the search of the accused's handbag, rupees 39,300 in cash was also recovered. The accused was taken into custody after completing all medico-legal formalities. Further investigation into the case is in progress,” said the spokesperson—(KNO)