Srinagar, Aug 20 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday said it had trapped and arrested a Junior Building Inspector of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) for allegedly demanding and accepting a Rs 10,000 bribe from a complainant.
In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said the J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau received a written complaint alleging that Gazala Akhter, Junior Building Inspector, SMC, Ward No. 28, Srinagar, had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant in connection with the construction of two structures, despite the complainant having already obtained the requisite building permission from the competent authority.
He said it was further alleged that the accused public servant was deliberately adopting delaying tactics by obstructing the ongoing construction and causing harassment to the complainant, with the intention of preventing him from completing the construction within the stipulated period and putting him under pressure to pay the demanded amount.
The spokesperson said that upon receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted, which prima facie substantiated the allegations. Accordingly, FIR No. 11/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar, and an investigation was taken up.
“During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and apprehended the accused public servant, Gazala Akhter, Junior Building Inspector, SMC Srinagar, red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 from the complainant. The bribe amount was recovered from her possession in the presence of independent witnesses, and she was taken into custody. Further investigation in the case is in progress.”—(KNO)