Srinagar- A government employee on Tuesday was caught by the sleuths of anti-corruption bureau (ACB) in North Kashmir’s Kupwara district for accepting a bribe in order to help a woman establish a business unit.
Saifudin Wani, clerk in the office of District Industrial Complex, Kupwara, was arrested by ACB after receiving a complaint from a man alleging that the government official was demanding Rs 5000 as bribe for helping him process the case of his wife, an ACB spokesperson said.
The anti-graft body, he said, received a complaint from a man stating that he prepared a file of his wife for establishing a unit under District industries for the activity Tailoring & preparation of readymade garments under Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).
“He applied with DIC Kupwara on 06-08-2021. He complained that he is being made to run for one formality or the other and the case of his wife under PMEGP is not being processed on merit for the past 2 years. The case of the complainant was delayed for two years for want of bribe under PMEGP,” he said.
The spokesperson further said that the complainant alleged that despite the fact that he had completed all the formalities in the file, the officers and officials posted at DIC Kupwara failed to process the genuine case of his wife, that even after lapse of time, no action was taken.
“He is now being asked to pay a bribe in order to approve the case and send it to Punjab National Bank for release of loan amount disbursement,” he said.
The complainant alleged that Wani was presently demanding a bribe of Rs. 5000/- from him following which he lodged a complaint with ACB and requested legal action against the government employee.
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, the spokesperson said, accordingly a Case FIR No. 05/2023 was registered at Police Station Anti Corruption Bureau Baramulla U/S 7 of the P.C Act 1988 & the investigation were initiated.
“During the course of investigation a trap team was constituted which laid a trap and caught the accused official of DIC Kupwara red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of Rs 5000. He was arrested on the spot after completing all legal formalities,” he said.
He further said that the role of other officials/ officers of the DIC Kupwara was also being looked into & investigations are also looking into the circumstances under which the case of the complainant’s wife was delayed for two years and was approved immediately after receipt of the bribe amount.
“Further investigations in the case are going on,” the ACB spokesperson added.
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