SRINAGAR: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Srinagar has registered a formal case against a District Development Council (DDC) Member, Mohammad Shaban Chopan, and his associate, Ghulam Mohammad Khathana, for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 5 lakh in exchange for arranging official No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for a local school.
According to an official statement from the ACB, FIR No. 12/2025 has been registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station ACB Srinagar.
The case was initiated following a written complaint received by the ACB against DDC Member Mohammad Shaban Chopan, son of Ghulam Qadir Chopan, and his alleged tout, Ghulam Mohammad Khathana, son of Mukeem Khathana—both residents of Dara, Harwan. The complainant alleged that the duo demanded a bribe of Rs 5,00,000 for facilitating NOCs required for operating Scholars Boarding School at Dara.
The complainant further stated that the DDC member orchestrated an official inspection of the school premises to create undue pressure and fabricate grounds for the bribe demand. As part of the total sum, an initial installment of Rs 50,000 and a blank signed cheque were allegedly sought by the accused.
Following a discreet verification process, the ACB confirmed the authenticity of the allegations. “The verification clearly established the demand of bribe by the public representative through his tout,” the ACB said in its statement.
Subsequently, a formal FIR was registered, and further investigation is underway. (JKNS)
