ACB Arrests Forester And Official For Bribery In Timber Transit Permit Issuance
The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has made significant strides in combating corruption with the recent arrest of Forester Mansoor Ahmad and another official from the Range Office in Watergam, Baramulla. The arrests were made following a complaint lodged by a resident of Rafiabad District, Baramulla, alleging bribery demands totaling ₹12,500 for the processing and issuance of a Transit Permit for timber transportation.
According officials told news agency PTK, the complainant, engaged in a timber business, sought Transit Permits through the National Transit Pass System (NTPS) to transport timber from Baramulla to Srinagar. Upon visiting the Range Office, Watergam, he was confronted with demands for bribes by Forester Mansoor Ahmad, who initially demanded ₹3,500 for a single permit and hinted at further payments for pending permits.
Prompted by the extortion attempts, the complainant approached the ACB with a written complaint, prompting discreet verification of the allegations. Subsequent investigations confirmed the collusion of officials at the Range Office, Watergam, in demanding bribes for permit issuance.
A case under FIR No. 01/2024 was registered against the accused public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, with investigations revealing a broader network of corruption within the office. A trap was laid, resulting in the apprehension of Mansoor Ahmad and another official while accepting a bribe of ₹12,500.
Both accused individuals were promptly arrested, and the recovered bribe money serves as crucial evidence in ongoing investigations. The ACB continues to delve deeper into the case, scrutinizing the involvement of other officials implicated in the bribery scheme.
This development underscores the ACB’s commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring transparency in bureaucratic processes. It also serves as a stern warning to those tempted to engage in corrupt practices, emphasizing the severe consequences awaiting perpetrators of such acts. (PTK)
