ACB arrests forest corpn official while taking bribe

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 21

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday caught the Divisional Manager of the State Forest Corporation, Udhampur, red-handed while accepting a bribe.

A case was lodged under Section 4-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment 2014) against Puran Chand Bhagat of RS Pura, Jammu, who is at present posted as the Divisional Manager, State Forest Corporation, Udhampur, on the basis of a written complaint by Romesh Chander of Udhampur, who works as a contractor in the forest corporation.

The contractor alleged that the Divisional Manager was demanding a bribe of Rs 48,000 from him for release of payments against the work done.

The complainant has further alleged that the Divisional Manager had asked him to pay Rs 30,000 in advance and Rs 18,000 after the release of the payment.

In view of the compelling circumstances, the complainant had agreed to pay Rs 30,000 bribe money in advance to the said officer on May 21 and the rest of the amount after the release of payment and preparation of documents.

A team of the Anti-Corruption Bureau under the command of Deputy Superintendent of Police Kartar Singh Kotwal successfully laid a trap and caught the officer red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant. The accused officer has been arrested.

What complainant said

A contractor alleged that the Divisional Manager was demanding a bribe of Rs 48,000 from him for release of payments against the work done.