Sopore: The anti-corruption Bureau (ACB J&K) arrested a cashier in the office of Executive Engineer, KPDCL sub transmission division Sopore while demanding and accepting bribe of Rupees 9000 for the release of security deposit of a complainant.
In a statement, a spokesperson said that ACB received a complaint against Mohd Shafi Bhat senior assistant-cum-cashier in the office of the Executive Engineer KPDCL Sopore, allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 10,000 for the release of security amount to the tune of Rs 15560.
“The complainant stated that he runs a firm named M/S Print Plus in Hazratbal, Srinagar. In 2021, he supplied stationery items and log books to the office of the Executive Engineer in Sopore. While the bill payment for the supplied items was made by the department, the security deposit amount of Rs 15,560 is still pending," reads the statement.
"He further alleged that he approached the department multiple times for the release of the security deposit, but Mohd Shafi kept delaying it on one pretext or another. Finally, Mohd Shafi demanded ₹10,000 as a bribe from him. The complainant has collected proof against the cashier regarding the demand for the bribe. Under these circumstances, he approached the ACB with a written complaint, requesting legal action against the cashier for the demand of the bribe.
The statement added that, as the contents of the complaint prima facie disclosed the commission of an offense punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (read with its Amendment Act, 2018) by the accused public servant, a case FIR No. 09/2024 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (read with its Amendment Act, 2018) was registered against him and investigations were initiated.
"During the course of investigations the accused public servant was caught red handed while demanding and accepting bribe from complainant. He was immediately taken into custody after completing the legal formalities the bribe amount was also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses. Further investigations in the case are going on,” the statement added.
(KNO)