Bureaucrat in J&K accepts bribe from ex-armyman, caught

Jammu and Kashmir's newly-formed Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a top bureaucrat after he was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a retired army officer in Jammu.

Syed Muried Hussian Shah, a senior Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS) officer, who was posted as Deputy Commissioner of Excise (Executive), was immediately placed under suspension and sent to the General Administration Department.

Shah was arrested after Colonel HDS Rainal (Retd) filed a complaint before the ACB alleging that the officer had demanded Rs 2 lakh bribe for clearing a file for renewal of a wine shop licence.

"It was stated by the complainant that his family had a business in the name of Dalip Singh Wine Shop at Narwal, Jammu and the license was pending since May, 2018 in the Excise Department. It was further stated that he was made to run from pillar to post for the renewal of the license for the past eight months," said a spokesman of the ACB.

Since the complainant and his family were already facing huge financial losses and mental torture, Rainal, to avoid any further losses, was ready to pay the bribe. "But before giving the bribe, he came to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jammu with a request that necessary action be taken against the officer," he said.

On the basis of the complaint, a prima facie case of criminal misconduct on part of the Deputy Excise Commissioner was found and accordingly a formal case was registered at ACB Jammu.

"A team of officers and officials was constituted by Senior Superintendent of Police, ACB Jammu, which laid a successful trap and apprehended the accused red-handed, while demanding and accepting the illegal gratification of Rs 2 lakh from the complainant in presence of independent witnesses. The accused was arrested on the spot," he said.

Later, an ACB team conducted a search at the accused's house in Paloura, Jammu.

This is the first big arrest by the ACB since it was constituted by Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik in October to do away with the shortcomings and multiplicity of roles in the existing anti-corruption mechanism in the state.

Meanwhile, a J&K government spokesman said pending inquiry into his conduct, Shah, under orders of transfer as Director Land Management, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) has been placed under suspension with immediate effect. "During his suspension, Shah will remain attached with the General Administration Department," he said

First Big Catch

This is the first big arrest by the ACB since it was constituted by Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik in October to do away with the shortcomings and multiplicity of roles in the existing anti-corruption mechanism in the state