Jammu, June 1, 2026 : In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday caught a Forest Guard red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹15,000 in Kishtwar district. The accused official was immediately arrested, and the tainted money was recovered during a meticulously planned trap operation.
According to an official ACB spokesperson, the bureau received a written complaint alleging that the accused public servant had demanded ₹20,000 from a complainant for expediting the release of security deposits linked to allotted works. Following negotiations, the demand was reportedly reduced to ₹15,000.
Refusing to succumb to the illegal demand, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau and sought legal intervention against the official.
Acting on the complaint, ACB conducted a discreet verification, which reportedly established a prima facie case of bribery. Subsequently, FIR No. 07/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was registered at Police Station ACB Central Jammu, and a formal investigation was launched.
During the investigation, a specially constituted trap team laid a successful operation and apprehended the accused, identified as Vaseem Ahmad Hap, son of Manzoor Ahmad and a resident of Hidyal, Kishtwar. He was presently posted as a Forest Guard and was also looking after accounts work in the office of the Divisional Forest Officer, Forest Division Marwah.
The ACB team caught the accused red-handed while he was allegedly demanding and accepting ₹15,000 as illegal gratification from the complainant. The bribe amount was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap proceedings.
Following the arrest, ACB officials also conducted searches at the residential premises of the accused government employee in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses as part of the ongoing investigation.
Officials stated that further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the accused was involved in similar corrupt practices and to uncover any additional evidence related to the case.
The successful operation once again highlights the ACB’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in public administration while encouraging citizens to report instances of corruption.
