Srinagar, June 19 (IANS) J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday said that it has filed a chargesheet against a fire & emergency services official in a bribery case.

The charge sheet was filed in the court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, against the accused, then senior fireman (Belt No 1748), Fire & Emergency Services, Sopore, Nisar Ahmad Wani, in connection with FIR No. 16/2024 registered at Police Station ACB, Baramulla, the ACB said in a statement.

A statement by ACB, Jammu and Kashmir, said today the organisation has filed a

The case was registered on December 16, 2024, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), following a written complaint lodged by a resident of Baramulla alleging demand of illegal gratification by Wani for facilitating the issuance of a Fire Safety No Objection Certificate (NOC) required for establishing a timber sale depot at Janbazpora, Baramulla.

It was further alleged that the accused had already obtained Rs 1,500 from the complainant towards application-related expenses and subsequently demanded Rs 5,000 as illegal gratification under the pretext of fuel charges and other incidental expenses.

Following a discreet verification, which prima facie substantiated the allegations, the ACB registered the case and constituted a trap team.

During the trap proceedings conducted on December 16, 2024, the accused was apprehended while allegedly demanding and accepting illegal gratification from the complainant.

The tainted bribe amount was recovered from the possession of the accused in the presence of independent witnesses. The hand wash and pocket wash samples of the accused tested positive for the presence of phenolphthalein and sodium carbonate during forensic examination conducted by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Srinagar.

The accused was arrested in accordance with due process of law and was subsequently released on bail by the court.

Upon completion of the investigation, sanction for prosecution as envisaged under Section 19 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was accorded by the competent authority and consequently, the charge sheet has been presented today before the special anti-corruption court, Baramulla, against the accused public servant for commission of offences punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the statement said.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau Jammu & Kashmir reiterates its commitment to combating corruption and urges citizens to report instances of bribery and corrupt practices through appropriate channels, it added..

–IANS

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