Srinagar, June 14: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested three persons, including a forest range officer in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, in an alleged bribery case, officials said on Sunday.
They said the trio was arrested after the CBI registered an FIR over the alleged demand of a bribe for the release of official documents linked to a furniture unit.
The case was registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Manzoor Ahmed, posted as Range Officer in the Budgam district; a forester and a casual labourer.
The case was registered on June 13 following a written complaint lodged by a resident of Shippora Nasipora in Budgam alleging that officials of the Forest Department had taken documents related to their family-owned furniture unit and that the accused officer later demanded Rs 15,000 for their release. The alleged bribe amount was negotiated down to Rs 10,000.
The verification by CBI confirmed the demand of illegal gratification by the accused public servant.
Following the verification, the agency registered a regular case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and entrusted the investigation to a regular-rank officer of the CBI ACB Srinagar.
During the investigation, a trap team was constituted by the CBI, who successfully trapped and caught the accused public servants red-handed while accepting a bribe.
