Early Times Report
JAMMU, May 31: Mehmood Ahmed Choudhary, the Additional Sessions Judge of Rajouri Anticorruption Court, has granted 15 days of police remand for the In-charge Block Forest Officer of Thakrakote, Reasi, and a Forest Guard. They were caught red-handed by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) while accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000.
The case originated from a complaint received by the Anti Corruption Bureau against Abneet Kumar, who is currently posted at Beat Bharakh with an additional charge of Beat Narla Bambal. The complainant alleged that he had taken a dry fallen Chir tree from the forest, and a complaint was subsequently lodged against him by Forest Guard Abneet Kumar of Beat Narla Bambal, who accused him of cutting/taking the tree without permission. The complainant was then advised by the Munshi of PP Taryath to settle the matter with the Forest Guard. When the complainant contacted the forest guard through intermediaries, a bribe of Rs 22,000 was demanded for the withdrawal of the application and settlement. As a result, the complainant approached the ACB and lodged a complaint at the ACB Rajouri Police Station, seeking legal action against Forest Guard Abneet Kumar.
After verifying the contents of the complaint, the investigating officer confirmed the demand for a bribe by the accused public servant, Abneet Kumar, thereby establishing a prima facie case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Subsequently, FIR No. 02/2023 was registered at the ACB Rajouri Police Station, and an investigation was initiated.
During the investigation, a trap team was formed, and it was discovered that another forest official, Sat Pal, the In-charge Block Officer of Thakrakote, was also involved in the conspiracy with Forest Guard Abneet Kumar. Both individuals were caught red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complainant. They were immediately arrested on the spot after completing the necessary legal formalities. |
