ACB arrests forest official for accepting bribe in Bandipora
Srinagar, 28 Dec (KB) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, a Range Officer stationed at Kuhihama in Bandipora. Sofi was apprehended in the act of accepting a bribe.
The arrest follows a written complaint lodged by a contractor who accused Sofi of demanding a bribe of ₹10,000 in exchange for processing overdue payments. The contractor, having completed a project valued at ₹3,21,000, claimed that Sofi insisted on the bribe to facilitate the release of a pending bill of approximately ₹1 lakh.
The ACB, upon receiving the complaint, swiftly registered FIR No. 13/2023 at PS ACB Baramulla, invoking Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 (as amended in 2018). Subsequent investigations led to the formation of a trap team, headed by a DySP-ranked officer. bandipora
The trap team successfully caught Range Officer Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi red-handed, accepting the ₹10,000 bribe. The ACB, emphasizing its commitment to transparency and accountability, promptly took Sofi into custody. Legal searches at his residence were conducted following due process.
This swift action by the ACB demonstrates its determination to tackle corruption within public service. As the case progresses, the ACB remains dedicated to upholding justice and sending a clear message that bribery will not be tolerated.–(Kashmir Bulletin)
