Rajouri : The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday registered a case and arrested two forest department officials for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes from a local resident.
FIR No. 04/2026 was registered at Police Station ACB Rajouri under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) against Md. Zaman, Forest Guard, and Ajaz Ahmed, Forester, posted in Forest Department, Range Kandi, Rajouri.
According to the complaint, the complainant was digging a septic and underground tank on his own land in Bakori, Rajouri, when Md. Zaman reportedly intervened on March 13, 2026, claiming the land fell under forest jurisdiction. The complainant refused, asserting ownership, but the official allegedly demanded ₹50,000 as bribe and threatened to halt work otherwise.
Under pressure, the complainant paid ₹30,000 through an account provided by the accused. However, harassment continued, with further demands of ₹10,000.
Upon receiving the complaint, ACB Rajouri officials laid a trap and caught Md. Zaman and Ajaz Ahmed red-handed while allegedly accepting ₹7,000 more in bribe. Both officials were arrested on the spot. Subsequent searches were conducted at their residences in Rajouri. Investigation into the case is ongoing, and further action is expected based on the findings.
