Srinagar, Apr 09: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested a Panchayat Secretary in Kulgam after catching him red-handed while accepting a Rs 5,000 bribe for clearing MGNREGA labour bills, officials said.
According to a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said the J&K Anti Corrupting Bureau received a written complaint to the effect that Panchayat Secretary (VLW) of Block Devsar Kulgam namely Shiekh Zada Irfan S/O Shiekh AB Rashid R/O Muniwara District Anantnag is demanding a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant for clearing of Bills on account of labour charges of MGNREGA works carried out by him, which was negotiated and finally settled at Rs 5000.
He said the complainant chose not to pay bribe and instead approached P/S Anti Corruption Bureau for taking legal action against the said Panchayat Secretary (VLW) as envisaged under law.
“On receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted which confirmed the demand by the said Govt. employee and accordingly Case FIR No. 04/2026 u/s 7 of P/C Act 1988 read with amendment Act-2018 was registered in PS ACB Anantnag and investigation was taken up,” said the spokesperson.
He said, during the course of investigation a trap team was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and caught the said Govt. employee red handed while demanding and accepting bribe. He was arrested on spot and bribe amount was also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap team.
“Subsequently, search of residential house of the accused Govt. employee was carried out in presence of Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses. Further investigation of the instant case is going on,” said the spokesperson.—(KNO)
