Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 28: The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) today arrested a Field Supervisor posted in the office of JK SC, ST & OBC Development Corporation, Baramulla for demanding a bribe for processing a loan case.
Bureau said that the complainant in his complaint has stated that he is running a Kiryana Shop at Old Town Baramulla and to expand his business about six months ago he had applied for a loan under the Scheme from JKSC, ST & OBC Development Corporation Baramulla.
“The interest rate for the said loan is 6% for which he was eligible. He fulfilled all the required formalities for sanction of his loan. The concerned field Supervisor and district officer were not sanctioning loan in favour of the complainant,” ACB said.
It further said that recently, the complainant again visited the said office for sanctioning of loan, the field Supervisor namely Manzoor Ahmad again demanded a bribe of Rs 4000.
“Manzoor Ahmad told him that a new district officer has joined and he will not sanction the loan without bribe money. The complainant requested the field Supervisor that as he had already borrowed money for giving a bribe of Rs 15000.”
On this, the ACB said, the field Supervisor Manzoor Ahmad told him to pay Rs 2000 more instead of Rs 4000. “Under these circumstances, the complainant approached the ACB and requested for taking necessary legal action against the accused Public servant for taking a bribe of Rs 15000 and demanding more bribe of Rs 2000.”
Accordingly, ACB said, on receipt of the complaint which prima facie disclosed commission of offenses under Section 7 of the P.C Act 1988 (as amended in 2018) a case FIR No 22/2022 was registered at PS ACB Baramulla against the accused person and investigations were started.
“Immediately after registration of the case a trap team headed by DySP rank officer and independent witnesses was constituted,” ACB said.
It said that the team caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe from the complainant at Baramulla.
“He was arrested on the spot after completing all legal formalities for further questioning and ascertaining the role of other persons. Searches were also conducted at the residence of the accused,” Bureau said, adding further investigation was going on.