Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-corruption Bureau (J&K ACB) on Monday said that it has trapped and arrested Bashir Ahmad, Junior Assistant, Social Welfare Department Sopore for release of financial assistance in favour of handicapped person.
In a statement issued on Monday J&K ACB said that in complaint received by it, it was alleged that Bashir Ahmad working as clerk in tehsil social welfare office,Sopore is demanding bribe from complainant for release of financial assistance that of handicapped person.
Stating further that the complainant alleged that he is a resident of Adipora, Sopore and his wife is a disabled person who was getting financial assistance from Social Welfare Department, J&K ACB in it’s statement further said “financial assistance was stopped a few years back following which he was contacted Tehsil social welfare Office Sopore and thereafter he was informed to get a fresh medical certificate of his wife.
“The complainant submitted the fresh medical certificate”, reads the statement, adding that “In spite of submitting the requisite documents the financial assistance was not restored by the concerned officials but he constantly kept on visiting Tehsil Social Welfare office for the restoration of financial assistance”. Stating that Bashir Ahmad, Jr. Asstt. demanded bribe of ₹ 5000 for processing his case and the complainant requested Bashir Ahmad to have mercy on him as he is poor and not in a position to pay the bribe money, the J&K ACB in it’s statement further more said that Bashir Ahmad paid no heed to the request of the complainant and thereafter the complainant approached ACB and requested for action against this corrupt and merciless govt official”.
J&K ACB in it’s statement further said that as the contents of complaint prima facie disclose the commission of offence punishable U/S 7 of the PC Act 1988 by accused public servant namely Bashir Ahmad clerk in Tehsil social welfare office Sopore a Case FIR No. 16/2022 was registered in Police Station Anti-Corruption Bureau Baramulla and the investigation was started.
“Immediately after registration of the case trap team was constituted which caught the accused official red handed while demanding and accepting bribe from complainant”, reads the J&K ACB Statement, adding that “the accused was arrested on the spot by the ACB team”.
Stating further that the bribe money was also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses, the J&K ACB in it’s statement furthermore said that searches were also conducted in the residence of the accused. It is pertinent to mention here that the accused was already under facing trial in case FIR No. 22/2004 of PS VOK. This case pertains to ‘Misappropriation of Govt. funds for disbursement among the beneficiaries under National old age pension Scheme’. Further investigation, according to above referred J&K ACB statement, is going on.