Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 13: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) today arrested an employee of the Rural Development Department (RDD) accepting Rs 50,000 as bribe in Block Bafliaz of district Poonch.
Official sources said that Mohd Sharief, Panchayat Secretary, Rural Development Department of Panchayat Draba Khatana, Block Bafliaz, in district Poonch was caught red handed while accepting Rs 50,000 as bribe from the complainant.
The action was taken by ACB after receiving complaint in ACB Police Station Central, J&K, Jammu against Mohd Sharief, son of Mishri, resident of Draba Khatana, Tehsil Surankote, district Poonch, presently posted as Secretary (RDD Deptt) Panchayat Draba Khatana, Block Bafliaz alleging therein that the accused is demanding bribe of Rs 5000 per file for release of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) 1st installment from the beneficiaries of the said Scheme who are homeless/ poor villagers of Panchayat Halqa, Draba Khatana, Poonch through the complainant who happens to be the Sarpanch of that Panchayat. The said complainant/Sarpanch was told by the accused to collect Rs 5000 per file as his commission/ bribe for the release of the payment from the beneficiaries.
Based on the facts disclosed in the complaint which prima- facie constituted an offence under section 7 of the PC Act 1988 (as amended in 2018). A verification was got conducted and it was found that there are 10 beneficiaries whose payments were blocked by the said accused official for want of bribe money at the tune of Rs 5,000 per file which amounts to Rs 50,000 in total.
Accordingly, an FIR No. 09/2021 was registered in Police Station, Central ACB, J&K on Oct 12 ,2021 against the accused person. Consequently a trap team was constituted where the accused person was caught red- handed on the spot while accepting the bribe of Rs 50,000 and accordingly he was placed under arrest in the case. Searches are being conducted at the official and residential premises of the accused. Further, investigation in the case was under progress.
The trap was laid by Ashok Sharma, DySP who was assisted by Kamal Sangra and Gulzar Ahmed both inspectors ACB Jammu.
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