In a recent development, the Anti-Corruption Bureau has apprehended Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, a Range Officer in Khuehama Forest Division, Bandipora, on charges of demanding and accepting bribes. The arrest comes following a written complaint received by the Anti-Corruption Bureau against Sofi, who was accused of soliciting a commission of Rs 10,000 for processing a bill related to the release of due payments.
According to the official statement issued by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the complainant, identified as a contractor, asserted that he had completed work amounting to Rs 3,21,000. Although the forest department had released two bills in his favor, a final bill of approximately Rs 100,000 was pending for the past one and a half months. The complainant alleged that Range Officer Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi demanded a bribe of Rs 15,000 as his commission for processing all three bills. After negotiations, the amount was reportedly settled at Rs 10,000.
Upon receiving the complaint, the Anti-Corruption Bureau initiated an investigation, leading to the registration of FIR No. 13/2023 at PS ACB Baramulla. A trap team, headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was formed, resulting in the successful apprehension of Sofi while he was allegedly demanding and accepting the bribe money. The recovered amount of Rs 10,000 was seized in the presence of independent witnesses.
Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi, son of Late Assadullah Sofi, and a resident of Onagam, Bandipora, was promptly taken into custody following due legal procedures. Subsequent searches were conducted at his residence as part of the ongoing investigation.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau emphasized that the case is under further investigation, and the accused will face legal proceedings in accordance with the law.
(Inputs from reports)
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