Rajouri, March 27,: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday apprehended a forester and a forest guard in Rajouri district for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 7,000, officials said.
The duo was caught “red-handed” while accepting illegal gratification in a case linked to forestry operations, as part of a trap laid by the anti-graft agency.
The arrests are part of the ACB’s ongoing crackdown on corruption within government departments, particularly at the field level where public interface is frequent.
Officials said the operation was conducted swiftly following a complaint, leading to the successful trapping of the accused while they were accepting the bribe amount.
An amount of Rs 7,000 was recovered from the accused at the spot, officials said, adding that necessary legal formalities were completed during the operation.
Searches were also carried out at the offices associated with the accused as part of the investigation.
The ACB has registered a case under relevant provisions of law and initiated a formal investigation into the matter.
Officials said the accused would be produced before a competent court for further legal proceedings.
The identities of the accused were not immediately disclosed.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has in recent months stepped up efforts to curb bribery and misconduct within government departments across Jammu and Kashmir.
Authorities have urged the public to report instances of corruption, assuring strict action against those found involved. [KNT]
