JK Top News Desk
Jammu, June 5: In a major crackdown on corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu has arrested two public servants — a Deputy Forester and a Forest Guard — for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹11,000 in connection with the release of an additional CDR related to forest work in Kalidhar Range.
According to an official statement issued by ACB, a complaint was received from a contractor who had executed the work titled “Construction of 126 Boundary Pillars in Compartment No. 12/K, Nada Chargiyal Forest, Kalidhar Forest Range” under e-NIT No. 27 of 2024-25 dated November 7, 2024.
The accused, Surinder Kumar (Deputy Forester, now under transfer from Kalidhar) and Kewal Krishan (Forest Guard, currently posted at Forest Check Post Bridge, Akhnoor), allegedly demanded ₹14,000 for releasing the additional CDR. After negotiation, they agreed to settle the bribe amount at ₹11,000 — ₹3,000 for the Deputy Forester and ₹8,000 for the Forest Guard.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached ACB for legal action. Upon verification of the complaint and confirmation of the demand, the ACB registered an FIR (No. 11/2025) under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
A trap team was constituted, and in a swift and successful operation, both accused were caught red-handed while accepting the bribe in the presence of independent witnesses. The tainted money was recovered from their possession, and the accused were immediately arrested after following all legal procedures. Simultaneous searches at their residences are underway, with oversight by independent witnesses and Magistrates.
The investigation in the case is ongoing, and ACB has assured strict legal action against all involved.
