SRINAGAR (VEN): Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) have arrested a Clerk of Fire and Emergency Service Department for demanding and accepting bribe in Sopore town of Baramulla district in North Kashmir on Tuesday.
“A complaint was received against Nisar Ahmad Wani, clerk of Fire & Emergency Service Department posted at Sopore District Baramulla alleging therein that said clerk is demanding bribe of ₹5000 from him for issuance of NOC of Fire & Emergency Department required by the complainant for opening of a timber sale Depot at Baramulla etc,” Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau said in a statement.
“The complainant alleged that he intends to open a sale depot of timber at Baramulla for which he had applied online with forest department for securing licence of timber depot and as per check list provided to him by DFO office Baramulla he completed all formalities except Fire department NOC which was mandatory and when he approached said office at sopore concerned dealing hand Nisar Ahmad Wani initially delayed NOC on different grounds and finally told him to give some kharcha (bribe) of ₹5000 negotiated for ₹4500 and also compelled complainant to pay ₹1500 through bank account to some unknown person on pretext of fee for NOC beside made him install various instruments at proposed Timber depot through selected shopkeeper at higher price,” the statement said.
“As the complainant was not interested in payment of bribe he accordingly approached ACB with his complaint and demanded legal action against concerned dealing hand Nisar Ahmad Wani of Fire Deptt Sopore for demanding bribe for NOC issuance purpose. On receipt of the complaint a discreet verification was conducted by ACB PS Baramulla. The discreet verification prima facie discloses commission of offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) on the part of Nisar Ahmad Wani, Clerk in Fire & Emergency Services Sopore District Baramulla,” the statement said.
“Accordingly on recommendations of the verifying officer a case FIR No 16/2024 Under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) was registered against Nisar Ahamd Wani, Clerk in Fire & Emergency Services Sopore District Baramulla and the investigation of case was initiated. During investigation, a trap team headed by Dy.SP rank officer was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and accused clerk Nisar Ahmad Wani of Fire service department Sopore was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe of ₹4000 from complainant at Fire service office Sopore in lieu of NOC and also gave further rebate of Rs 500 during exchange of bribe,” the statement added.
Accordingly, after completing all legal formalities the accused clerk was arrested on the spot. The bribe money was also recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses. Further investigation of the instant case is going on. (VEN)
