Forest official held for accepting bribe

Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested a government official for accepting bribe for issuance of NOC of Fire & Emergency Department.

An official statement said the department received a complaint against Nisar Ahmad Wani, clerk of Fire & Emergency Service Department posted at Sopore in Baramulla district.

The complainant alleged that the clerk was demanding a bribe of Rs 5,000 from him for issuance of NOC required for opening of a timber sale depot, for which he had applied online.

“When he approached the said office at Sopore, Wani initially delayed NOC on different grounds and finally demanded Rs 5000 as bribe. He also compelled the complainant to pay Rs 1500 through bank account to some unknown person on pretext of fee for NOC beside made him install various instruments at the proposed timber depot through a selected shopkeeper at higher price,” the statement said.

It said the complainant approached ACB with his complaint and demanded legal action against Wani.

The department said on receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted by ACB Police Station, Baramulla. “The probe disclosed commission of offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) on the part of Nisar Ahmad Wani, Clerk in Fire & Emergency Services Sopore District Baramulla,” the statement said.

During investigation, a trap team headed by DSP rank officer was constituted and the team laid a successful trap and accused clerk Nisar Ahmad Wani was “caught red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 4000 from complainant at Fire service office, Sopore, in lieu of NOC and also gave further rebate of Rs 500 during exchange of bribe”.

The ACB said after completing all legal formalities, the accused clerk was arrested on the spot. “The bribe money was also recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses,” the statement said.