The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wedneaday is said to have trapped and arrested Senior Accountant, SIDCO, Khunmoh, Srinagar for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000.

Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau received a written complaint alleging therein that a public servant namely Mohammad Yaseen Sheikh, Senior Accountant, SIDCO, Khunmoh, Srinagar is demanding Rs 20,000 as a bribe for processing the case of the complainant of supplementary partnership deed, a spokesman said in a statement issued to the news agency KNO.

However, after negotiation the amount was settled as Rs 15,000, the spokesman said, adding that the complainant chose not to pay the bribe and instead approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau for taking legal action against the accused public servant as provided under law.

"On receipt of the complaint, discreet verification was conducted, which confirms the demand by the public servant concerned and accordingly a case under FIR number 18/2024 under section 7 PC Act 1988 was registered in Police Station ACB Srinagar and an investigation was taken up," the statement reads.

During the course of the investigation, a trap team was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and caught the accused public servant red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe amount of Rs 15,000 from the complainant.

He was arrested on the spot by the ACB team. The bribe money was also recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap team, it reads, adding that further investigation of the instant case is going on.

SRINAGAR — The Special Anti-Corruption Court, Srinagar on Saturday granted an interim bail to police officer (SHO Panthachowk) Azim Iqbal in a bribery case.

After hearing prosecution and defence counsel Advocate Vaseem Aslam, the Court of Special Anti-Corruption, Srinagar, presided over by Surrender Singh said that the accused is granted interim bail for 20 days.

On May 25, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) trapped and arrested Inspector Azim Iqbal Khan, SHO Police Station Pantha Chowk and his tout Mushtaq Ahmad Abbasi for demanding a bribe of eight lakh rupees.

As per the prosecution, ACB said it received a written complaint wherein it was alleged that Inspector Azim Iqbal Khan, SHO Police Station, Pantha Chowk, Srinagar through his tout Mushtaq Ahmad is demanding eight lakh rupees as a bribe for issuance of a report in an accident case to the complainant.

During the course of the investigation by the ACB, a trap team was constituted and SHO concerned Inspector Azim Iqbal and his tout Mushtaq Ahmad were apprehended red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe from the complainant inside the premises of the Police Station Pantha Chowk, Srinagar.

After hearing arguments, the Special Court granted 20 days interim bail to the police officer accused in the said bribery case.

SRINAGAR — The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested an official in Banihal area of Ramban district while accepting a bribe of Rs 18,000 from a complainant.

In a statement issued to the news agency KNO, a spokesperson said that a case was registered by CBI against the accused on allegations that the accused demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant for processing his application for land settlement.

The statement reads that after negotiation, the accused agreed to accept the bribe of Rs 18,000 from the complainant.

“CBI laid a trap yesterday and caught the accused red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 18,000 from the complainant,” it reads.

It added that searches were conducted at the residential and official premises of the accused which led to the recovery of cash of Rs 3,71,500 and other documents, while the investigation is going on.

SRINAGAR — A Senior Assitant-cum-Cashier working in the office of Executive Engineer, KPDCL Sub Transmission Division, Sopore has been arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) J&K for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹9000, the anti-graft agency said on Monday.

As per the news agency CNS, ACB said it received a complaint against Mohammad Shafi Bhat, Senior Assistant-cum-Cashier in the office of the Executive Engineer, KPDCL, Sub Transmission Division Sopore, alleging therein the demand of bribe of ₹10,000 for release of security amount to the tune of ₹15,560.

“It was alleged by the complainant in his complaint that he is running a firm namely M/S Print Plus at Hazratbal Srinagar and in the year 2021, he had supplied stationery items and log books to the office of Executive Engineer, KPDCL, Sopore for which the bill payment against the supplied items was made by the department but the security deposit amount of ₹15,560 is pending with the KPDCL, Sopore,” said the ACB in a statement.

He further alleged that he approached the department for the release of the security amount many times but one cashier Mohammad Shafi kept delaying on one pretext or another and finally demanded ₹10,000 as a bribe from him for doing so and that he had collected proof against said cashier regarding the demand of a bribe. Under these circumstances, he approached ACB with a written complaint requesting legal action against the Cashier for demanding of bribe, the anti-graft agency said.

“As the contents of complaint prima facie disclose the commission of an offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (read with its amendment Act 2018) by the accused public servant namely Mohammad Shafi, Cashier in the office of the Executive Engineer, KPDCL Sub Transmission Division Sopore District Baramulla, accordingly a case FIR No. 09/2024 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (read with its amendment Act 2018) was registered against him at Police Station, Anti Corruption Bureau, Baramulla and investigations were initiated,” it added.

During the course of investigations, ACB said that the accused public servant was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe from the complainant by a specially constituted team of ACB headed by a DySP rank officer.

“He was immediately taken into custody after completing the legal formalities. The bribe amount was also recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses. Further investigations into the case are going on,” ACB added in the statement.

KATHUA — The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has sprung into action following a written complaint received from a resident of Machhedi, District Kathua. The complaint alleges that Gulshan Singh, Patwari of Halqa Machhedi, Kathua, demanded a bribe of ₹5000 for the issuance of Virsati Intqal mutations and legal heir certificates.

According to an official quoted by a local news agency, the complainant utilized the online portal of the Revenue Department for application submission and subsequently met the Patwari for document issuance. It was reported that Patwari initially received ₹2000 as an advance payment and then demanded the remaining ₹3000 from the complainant.

Recognizing the seriousness of the allegations, the ACB took swift action, registering case FIR No. 02/2023 at Police Station ACB Central and initiating an investigation.

The official disclosed that a trap team was formed as part of the investigation process, which successfully caught the accused Patwari red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of ₹3000 in the presence of independent witnesses. Following the completion of legal formalities, the Patwari was promptly arrested at the scene.

Subsequent to the arrest, searches were conducted at the residential premises of the accused located at Ward No. 21, Ram Nagar Colony, Kathua.

The investigation into the case remains ongoing, as confirmed by the official.

SRINAGAR — The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday said it caught a Range Officer in Khulhama forest Division of Bandipora district red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 for processing the bill of the complainant.

A spokesman in a statement issued to the news agency KNO said that ACB received a written complaint against Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, Range Officer, Khulhama, Bandipora from a complainant, alleging therein that the concerned officer is demanding a bribe as a commission of Rs 10,000 for processing his bill for release of due payments.

"The complainant further alleged that he is a contractor and had completed the allotted work for an amount of Rs 3,21,000 and that after completing the said work, the Forest Department has already released two bills in his favour," the statement said.

However, the final bill to the tune of about Rs one lac has been pending with the said department for last one-and-a-half month for which concerned Range Officer Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi put a demand of bribe as his commission of Rs 15,000 for all three bills including already two released bills, the statement said.

"The said amount after negotiations with the accused Range Officer, was settled on Rs. 10,000. The complainant arranged Rs 10,000 and approached ACB with a complaint requesting for legal action," it said.

"On receipt of a complaint which prima facie disclosed the commission of an offence punishable u/s 7 of the PC Act 1988 (as amended in 2018), accordingly case FIR No. 13/2023 was registered at PS ACB Baramulla and an investigation was taken up," the spokesman said.

During the course of the investigation, a trap team was constituted and headed by DySP rank officer. The team laid a successful trap and caught the accused public servant namely Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi son of Late Assadullah Sofi, resident of Onagam, Bandipora posted as Range Officer, Khulhama forest range, Bandipora while demanding and accepting the bribe money of Rs 10,000. The bribe amount was recovered from the possession of the accused in the presence of independent witnesses, the statement said.

"The accused was immediately taken into custody after following due process as laid down under law and searches at his residence were conducted," the spokesman said, adding that further investigation of the case is going on.

It is a cliché now that youth are the foundation of a progressive society. They are the past, present and future of a country. They are broad-minded and use their energy for the overall development of society. It is they who are supposed to carry on the legacy, left by their forefathers. In a nutshell, they are the custodians of a civilisation.

If we talk of the youth of Kashmir, they are like other youth. They have a strong desire to work hard and excel in every part of their lives. They have a goal in front of them and want to achieve it, though myriad obstacles are in the way. However, their potential is wasted in one way or another.

In Kashmir, their gushing rivers of emotions are drying with each passing day. Their creativities are neglected and they are staring at a bleak future. The educated youths are more depressed than uneducated ones. They have sacrificed everything to fulfil their dreams. Their family members sacrificed their happiness for their bright careers. However, at the end of the day, it is corruption, nepotism and other immoral practices that are waiting for them.

In the hope of becoming extraordinary, they have become so ordinary that they are called useless. The highly qualified youths are unable to stand on their feet. They can’t earn their livelihood. The ups and downs of life are alien to them. They are unable to solve them. In this atmosphere, they feel choked. They have become a burden on their families as well as society. They are mentally disturbed. Mental diseases are on the rise among them.

It was the collective work of the government and society to care for them. Avenues must have been created for them so that their ingenuity was not lost in the dreary desert of lawlessness. The government must have tried its best to help the youth at every step. They must have been given every kind of support. Whether it was financial or moral support, their raw emotions must have been sublimated and given a proper channel.

However, the government has done nothing substantial to save their future. Instead of supporting them, the alleged corruption in various institutions has reduced their horizons of life. They have faced every kind of evil practice to get thrown into a bottomless pit. Mere promises can’t do miracles, instead, proper implementation of laws and policies and a proper watch is needed to help them regain confidence in government institutions.

The need of the hour is to channel the energies of the youth into positive works. We can’t afford to see them getting wasted for nothing. Proper implementation of laws and sustainable policies can help us in this endeavour. All have to come forward in this regard.

Fraudsters who loot youth on different pretexts should be publicly punished. No country wants its youth to go astray. Who will lead society tomorrow when the present is full of despair? The question remains.

SRINAGAR — The post of Assistant Executive Engineer has been lying vacant for the last four months in PHE Sub-Division Pulwama, although the department has implemented the appointment of a new engineer under an order but the engineer has not yet been charged.

According to the news agency CNS, PHE Sub-Division Pulwama has been missing the chair of Assistant Executive Engineer for the last four months. Even though the Central government has launched a tap campaign for every house under Jal Jeevan Mission, however, people are still facing a shortage of drinking water in this division.

Local sources said that many engineers have been sitting on the chairs in PHE Division Pulwama for years and they have approved it through collusion with the contractors. A wide series of looting of the government treasury has continued.

Sources said that the charge of the Assistant Executive Engineer in PHE Sub-Division Pulwama is still under Sub-Division Tahab and it is also worth mentioning that in Sub-Division Tahab allegations of massive rigging in the Jal Jeevan Mission are coming to light.

Reliable sources said that the appointment of Assistant Executive Engineer in PHE Sub-Division Pulwama is being kept pending under a well-thought-out plan as few contractors are engaged in colluding with engineers to siphon off crores of rupees from the government exchequer.

Meanwhile, government investigation agencies are unable to draw any attention to it. Sources further said that government rules and regulations have also been disregarded in the estimated funds for the completion of the JJM project.

The local people have also demanded a high-level investigation by the CBI into the irregularities in the Pulwama division.

SRINAGAR — Anti-Corruption Bureau has arrested a Revenue official while demanding and accepting a bribe in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.

ACB said that Tariq Ahmad Shah, posted as Patwari in Hathbura Halqa in Ganderbal, was caught red-handed by sleuths of the anti-corruption branch of CBI Srinagar in a well-laid trap while demanding and accepting a bribe of rupees fifty thousand from the complainant at main town Ganderbal.

The tainted amount was recovered from the accused Patwari on the spot in the presence of the independent witnesses.

ACB, in this regard, has registered a formal case vide FIR number 01/2023 under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018).

In the meantime, the accused Patwari was arrested on the spot and taken into custody.

SHOPIAN — An awareness programme on anti-corruption laws in observance of Vigilance Awareness Week under the banner of 'My College My Pride' was organized on Wednesday in the auditorium of Government Degree College Shopian by the College Debates and Seminars Committee. The programme was organized in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Bureau Anantnag.

Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Mr. Sachin Kumar (IAS) was the chief guest on the occasion. Prof. Tariq Hussain, Vice Principal attended the event as the guest of honour. The guest speakers included Mr. Mohammad Shafiq, DySp ACB Anantnag and Mr. Khurshid Ahmad, Public Prosecutor Pulwama.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Mr. Sachin Kumar emphasized the role of educated youth in making the nation stronger by way of making the system and the society free of any form of corruption.

Mr. Mohammad Shafiq discussed the anti-corruption measures taken by ACB in detecting, investigating and prosecuting corrupt officials. He sought the help of people in coming forward with complaints of bribery/corruption from any government official.

Public Prosecutor Pulwama, Mr. Khurshid threw light on various facets and forms of corrupt practices and opined that corruption can be rooted out completely only when people take upon themselves the duty of building a morally and ethically upright nation.

Prof. Tariq Hussain, Vice Principal of the college stressed the need for students to spread the message of a corruption-free system and society among their family members and wider society. He said that time has come when we need to practice more and preach less.

Prof. Mehmood Tak, senior faculty member and Head Department of Botany asked the students to do their bit by way of honest and upright actions. He asked the students not to resort to malpractices with respect to their studies and examinations.

Three students of the college delivered impressive speeches on the theme of rooting out corruption and were awarded cash prizes by the ACB officials.

In his concluding remarks, Prof. Shahnawaz Ahmad Khanday, Head Department of Sociology, sought to highlight the importance of understanding the menace of corruption in a holistic manner and taking adequate measures at individual and societal levels to root it out.

The programme ended with a Vote of Thanks to all in attendance. The proceedings of the programme were conducted by Dr. Umar Farooq from the Department of Botany.

SRINAGAR — Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday arrested an Exen of Jal Shakthi department and a Ward officer of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) while accepting bribes in Kashmir capital Srinagar.

Sources, as per the news agency KDC, said that one Exen of Jal Shakti was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of rupees 25,000. The officer was identified as Tariq Kachroo, posted as Exen groundwater division Kashmir.

In another trap case, Mohammad Maqbool Bhat, a resident of HMT Srinagar who is the Ward officer of Ward 10 Zadibal was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of rupees 20,000 at Alamgari Bazar here.

Both the officers were arrested on different spots by the ACB teams, the bribe money was also recovered from their possession in presence of independent witnesses, an official from ACB confirmed and said that further investigations into the matter are going on.

BARAMULLA — ACB arrested Abdul Majid Bhat, Patwari, Halqa Goom, Ahmadpora, Tehsil Pattan, District Baramulla for demanding a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a complainant.

As per a statement, "Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint from the complainant alleging therein that Abdul Majid Bhat, Patwari, was demanding a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant for preparing and providing of Revenue extracts required by the complainant."

The statement read, "The complainant stated that some 10 years back, he had purchased two kanals of land at Goom, Ahmadpora, Pattan but he could not prepare sale deed at that time, therefore about six months back complainant approached the Patwari Abdul Majid Bhat for Revenue extracts of the land but Patwari deliberately delayed the matter on one pretext or the other.”

“Finally, Patwari Bhat demanded Rs 10000 each for two separate extracts required for the execution of sale deed by the complainant in favour of his daughter and sister-in-law," it reads.

"Immediately upon receiving the complaint which prima facie discloses the commission of the offence, an FIR was registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla and investigations started," the statement said.

It further reads, "Subsequently, a trap team was constituted and accused Patwari was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe from the complainant in presence of independent witnesses. The accused was arrested on the spot and the bribe money was also recovered from his possession. Further investigations in the case are going on."