SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday arrested a clerk posted at the Treasury Office in Kalakote, Rajouri, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a retired government employee, officials said.
The accused, Khadam Hussain, was arrested during a trap operation after the ACB received a complaint from a retired fourth-class employee of the Health Department.
According to the complaint, the retired employee had approached the Treasury Office, Kalakote, to withdraw Rs 50,000 in gratuity. Hussain allegedly demanded Rs 25,000 from him for processing the case.
The complainant told the official about his financial difficulties and requested him to reduce the amount, following which the bribe was allegedly settled at Rs 20,000, the ACB said.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB and submitted a written complaint seeking action against the official.
The allegations were subsequently verified and a case was registered. A team from ACB Police Station Rajouri was then constituted to lay a trap.
During the operation, Hussain was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 20,000 from the complainant, the agency said.
He was arrested on the spot, following which the ACB also conducted searches at his residential premises in Rajouri in connection with the case.
Further investigation is underway, the ACB said.
