Srinagar, July 11, KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested a Meter Reader of the Power Development Department (PDD) red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 in Srinagar’s Panzinara area, Shalteng.
According to an official statement, the ACB received a written complaint from a local resident alleging that Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, a Lineman-II (designated as Meter Reader) posted at Panzinara, Sub Division Pattan in Baramulla district, had demanded the bribe to process a new electricity connection for the complainant’s newly constructed house.
Refusing to give in to the corrupt demand, the complainant approached the ACB seeking legal action. Upon receiving the complaint, the ACB initiated a discreet verification, which confirmed the allegations. Subsequently, a case FIR No. 13/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended) was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar, and a formal investigation was launched.
A trap team was constituted, and during the planned operation, the accused public servant, Manzoor Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Buran, Pattan, Baramulla, was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe from the complainant at Panzinara, Shalteng.
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The bribe amount of Rs 5,000 was recovered from the possession of the accused in the presence of independent witnesses. Following due legal procedure, the accused was taken into custody on the spot.
Officials said further investigation into the case is underway to ascertain if the accused was involved in similar instances of corruption and to uncover any larger network of malpractice within the department.
The ACB has reaffirmed its commitment to rooting out corruption and urged the public to report any such incidents without fear.
