Srinagar, May 30: The Anti-Corruption Bureau on Tuesday apprehended an official and a forest guard from the forest department in Reasi for requesting and taking bribes.
“The Anti-Corruption Bureau received a complaint against Abneet Kumar, who is currently assigned to Beat Bharakh with additional responsibility for Beat Narla Bambal.” The complainant claimed in the complaint that he took one dry fallen Chir tree from the forest and that “after a few days, Munshi of PP Taryath contacted the complainant and told him that Forest Guard namely Abneet Kumar of beat Narla Bambal lodged a complaint against him for cutting/taking of tree from the forest without permission,” according to a statement obtained by GNS.
“When the complainant met Munshi of PP Teryath, he advised him to deal with the Forest Guard.” When the complaint contacted the forest guard via another individual, he requested $22,000 as a bribe for the application to be withdrawn and settled. On this basis, the complainant called ACB and filed a complaint with Police Station ACB Rajouri in order to pursue legal action against the above-mentioned Forest Guard.”
“Because the contents of the complaint disclose a bribe demand by the alleged accused public servant, the same was verified through a verifying officer, who reported that prima facie evidence of commission of offences under Section 7 of the PC Act 1988 is made out against the accused Abneet Kumar Forest Guard.” As a result, case FIR No. 02/2023 of PS ACB Rajouri was opened, and an inquiry was launched,” according to the statement.
“A trap team was formed during the investigation.” During the judicial procedures, however, another forest official, Sat Pal, Incharge Block officer Thakrakote, was discovered to be complicit in the scheme with the aforementioned Forest Guard Abneet Kumar. They were caught red-handed asking and collecting a $15,000 bribe from the plaintiff. Both were detained on the scene after completing the requisite legal procedures.”
“Searches were also conducted in the accused persons’ homes in Pouni, Reasi, and Gurha Jagir, Akhnoor,” the statement said.
