Doda: The Anti-Corruption Court Doda on Thursday convicted two engineers of the Public Works Department (R&B) in a decade-old trap case. The court, presided over by Judge Archana Charak, awarded rigorous imprisonment to the duo and imposed fines after finding them guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe.
Those convicted are Syed Ikhlaq Hussain Peer, who was then serving as Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE), and Raja Faisal, then Junior Engineer (JE), both posted in the PWD (R&B) West Sub Division Doda at the time of the incident.
The conviction relates to FIR No. 14/2011 registered at Police Station Vigilance Organisation Jammu, now known as the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
According to the prosecution, the case originated from a complaint filed by a contractor who had completed blacktopping work on the Doda–Ganeka road. The complainant stated that though 75 percent of his payment had been released, the accused engineers demanded a bribe of Rs 45,000 for clearing the remaining amount. The contractor alleged that he was subjected to undue harassment when he refused to comply.
Acting on the complaint, a trap was laid in Doda City by the vigilance sleuths. During the operation, Raja Faisal, JE, was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of Rs 45,000 in the presence of independent witnesses. He was immediately arrested, and subsequent investigation revealed the involvement of Syed Ikhlaq Hussain Peer, AEE, in the conspiracy.
Following the investigation, the Anti-Corruption Bureau filed a charge sheet against both engineers. After years of trial, the court found them guilty beyond reasonable doubt and awarded punishment.
The sentencing includes one year of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 each under Section 120-B RPC. [KNT]
