J&. K Anti-Corruption Bureau Arrests Kulgam Panchayat Secretary in Bribery Trap
The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a Panchayat Secretary in Kulgam district after catching him red-handed while accepting a bribe. The official was allegedly demanding payment to clear labor bills related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Details of the Arrest and Trap
The accused, identified as Shiekh Zada Irfan, a resident of Muniwara in the Anantnag district, served as the Panchayat Secretary (Village Level Worker or VLW) for Block Devsar in Kulgam. According to official statements, the ACB received a written complaint alleging that Irfan demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 from a complainant to clear bills for labor charges on MGNREGA works.
Following negotiations, the bribe amount was settled at Rs 5,000. Rather than paying the official, the complainant approached the ACB to initiate legal action. After a discreet verification confirmed the demand, the ACB registered Case FIR No. 04/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 (including the 2018 amendment) at the PS ACB Anantnag.
A specialized trap team was constituted and successfully caught the government employee red-handed while he was demanding and accepting the negotiated bribe. The ACB confirmed that the bribe money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses.
Further Legal Actions
Following the immediate arrest, the ACB conducted a search of the accused’s residential house. This search was carried out in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses to ensure transparency. Official sources state that further investigation into the case is currently underway.
Key Takeaways
- Accused: Shiekh Zada Irfan, Panchayat Secretary (VLW), Block Devsar Kulgam.
- Offense: Demanding and accepting a bribe for clearing MGNREGA labor bills.
- Amount: Initially demanded Rs 10,000; settled and accepted Rs 5,000.
- Legal Action: Arrested under Section 7 of the P/C Act 1988; FIR registered at PS ACB Anantnag.
- Recovery: Bribe money recovered on the spot; residential search conducted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MGNREGA?
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act is a social security measure that guarantees the right to work by providing at least 100 days of wage employment in a financial year to every household whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work.
What happens after an ACB trap?
Once a government official is caught in a trap, they are arrested on the spot, and the bribe money is seized. This is typically followed by the registration of an FIR and a search of the official’s premises to find further evidence of corruption.