SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a clerk of the Fire & Emergency Services department posted in Sopore for demanding a bribe of Rs 5,000 to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for opening a timber sale depot.
“A complainant alleged that he intended to open a timber sale depot in Baramulla and had applied online to the forest department for a licence. He had completed all formalities as per the checklist, except for the mandatory NOC from the fire department,” reads a statement.
The statement reads that the concerned clerk, Nisar Ahmad Wani, initially delayed issuing the NOC on various grounds. “Finally, the clerk demanded a bribe of Rs 5,000. The clerk also compelled the complainant to pay Rs 1,500 via a bank account to an unknown person under the pretext of an NOC fee. Additionally, he made the complainant purchase various instruments for the proposed timber depot from a specific shopkeeper at inflated prices.”
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB and filed a formal complaint, seeking legal action against the clerk.
“Upon receiving the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted by the ACB police station in Baramulla. The verification prima facie confirmed the commission of an offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, by Nisar Ahmad Wani. Accordingly, FIR No. 16/2024 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was registered, and an investigation was initiated,” the statement added.
During the investigation, a team set up a successful trap, catching the accused clerk red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹4,000 from the complainant.
“Following all legal formalities, the accused was arrested on the spot. The bribe money was also recovered, and further investigation is ongoing,” it concluded. (KNO)
