Excelsior Correspondent
PULWAMA/ANANTNAG, Aug 23: The Special Anti-Corruption Courts of Pulwama and Anantnag have convicted two former Government officials-Girdawar and Junior Assistant for demanding and accepting bribes in long-pending trap cases investigated by the Vigilance Organization Kashmir (now Anti-Corruption Bureau).
In the first case, Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Pulwama Dr Noor Mohammad Mir, convicted Ghulam Hassan, the then Girdawar Circle Keegam, Shopian. The accused was found guilty under Sections 5(2) read with 5(1)(d) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 161 RPC for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 2,000 from a complainant for demarcating land measuring 18 kanal and 18 marla.
The case was registered on June 16, 2008 after a complaint and a trap was laid during which the accused was caught red-handed. A chargesheet was filed on December 4, 2008. After years of judicial proceedings, the court sentenced him to three years and six months simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 20,000 under the J&K PC Act and one year simple imprisonment with a fine of Rs 10,000 under Section 161 RPC. In case of default in payment of fines, he will undergo further imprisonment.
In the second case, the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Anantnag Masarat Roohi convicted Habibullah, the then Junior Assistant in the Block Development Office, Larkipora. The case, registered under FIR No. 25/2009, was based on a complaint that the accused demanded a bribe of Rs 1,800 from a helper for preparing arrear bills following in-situ promotions.
Acting on the complaint, Vigilance sleuths laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed while accepting the bribe. A chargesheet was filed before the court on April 17, 2010 and after prolonged trial, the accused was convicted. He was sentenced to two years simple imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 21,000 with an additional six months imprisonment in case of default.
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