The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Nisar Ahmad Wani, a clerk in the Fire & Emergency Services Department in Sopore, for taking a bribe. He was caught red-handed while accepting ₹4000 to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
A complaint was filed against Nisar Ahmad Wani by someone who wanted to open a timber sale depot in Baramulla. The complainant said that he had completed all necessary steps to get a license, except for the NOC from the fire department.
When he approached the office in Sopore, Nisar Ahmad Wani delayed the process and demanded a bribe of ₹5000, which was later negotiated down to ₹4500. The complainant was also forced to pay ₹1500 to an unknown person as a supposed fee and to buy equipment at higher prices from a specific shop.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant contacted the ACB, asking for action against Nisar Ahmad Wani. After receiving the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet investigation. They found enough evidence to suggest that Nisar Ahmad Wani was involved in corruption, violating Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
A case was registered, and during the investigation, a team led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police set up a trap. They successfully caught Nisar Ahmad Wani accepting the ₹4000 bribe at the fire service office in Sopore. The money was recovered in front of independent witnesses, and the clerk was arrested on the spot.
The ACB is continuing its investigation. They urge the public to report any demands for bribes by public servants. People can call the ACB J&K helpline at 9419678060 or email director.vigilance@jk.gov.in to report such incidents.
