Forest guard arrested by ACB for accepting 15,000 bribe in Kishtwar
Jammu, June 01 (KIINS): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday trapped and arrested Vaseem Ahmad Hap, a Forest Guard of Forest Division Marwah, Kishtwar, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹15,000.
According to an ACB statement, a written complaint was received alleging that the accused had demanded ₹20,000 from the complainant for expediting the release of security deposits related to allotted works. Following negotiations, the accused allegedly agreed to accept ₹15,000 as illegal gratification.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB and sought legal action against the accused official.
On receiving the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification which established a prima facie case of bribery against the public servant. Accordingly, FIR No. 07/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was registered at Police Station ACB Central, Jammu, and an investigation was initiated.
During the investigation, a trap team was constituted and laid a successful trap. The accused, identified as Vaseem Ahmad Hap, son of Manzoor Ahmad and a resident of Hidyal, Kishtwar, presently posted as Forest Guard and handling accounts work in the office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Forest Division Marwah, was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting ₹15,000 from the complainant.
The accused was immediately arrested on the spot, and the bribe money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap proceedings.
Subsequently, searches were conducted at the residential premises of the accused in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses.
Further investigation into the case is in progress.(KINS)
