SRINAGAR: The Anti-Corruption Bureau trapped and arrested a forest department officer and an employee in Reasi on Tuesday for demanding and accepting a bribe.
According to a statement, the Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint against Abneet Kumar, who is currently posted at Beat Bharakh with an additional charge of Beat Narla Bambal. The complainant alleged that Abneet Kumar had taken a dry fallen Chir tree from the forest, and later, the Munshi of PP Taryath contacted the complainant and informed him that a complaint had been lodged by Forest Guard Abneet Kumar of beat Narla Bambal for cutting or taking the tree from the forest without permission.
The complainant met with the Munshi of PP Teryath, who advised him to settle the matter with the Forest Guard. The complainant then contacted the forest guard through another person, and the guard demanded a bribe of ₹22,000 to withdraw the application and settle the issue. As a result, the complainant approached the ACB and filed a complaint at the Police Station ACB Rajouri, seeking legal action against the Forest Guard.
After verifying the contents of the complaint, which indicated a demand for a bribe by the accused public servant, the verifying officer concluded that prima facie offenses under Section 7 of the PC Act 1988 were made out against the Forest Guard, Abneet Kumar. Consequently, an FIR (No. 02/2023) was registered at PS ACB Rajouri, and an investigation was initiated.
During the investigation, a trap team was formed. However, it was discovered during the trap proceedings that another forest official, Sat Pal, the Incharge Block Officer of Thakrakote, was also involved in the conspiracy with Forest Guard Abneet Kumar. Both were caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹15,000 from the complainant. They were subsequently arrested on the spot, following the necessary legal procedures.
Furthermore, searches were conducted at the residences of the accused individuals located in Pouni, Reasi, and Gurha Jagir, Akhnoor, as mentioned in the statement. (GNS)
