Manager State Forest Corporation caught red handed accepting bribe

Anti-Corruption Bureau Doda has registered a formal case under FIR No.05/2019 u/s 5 (1) (d) r/w 5 (2) and Section 4-A PC Act (Amendment 2014) against Puran Chand Bhagat S/O Buti Ram R/O R.S Pura, Jammu presently posted as Divisional Manager in State Forest Corporation (SFC) Udhampur on the basis of a written complaint lodged by Sh. Romesh Chander S/O Late Sh. Amar Nath R/O House No.100 Ward No.4 Court Road Udhampur. The complainant in his complaint has stated that he is working as a contractor with State Forest Corporation Division Udhampur since last about twenty years and he has been allotted extraction/ transportation/ loading/un-loading work by the department in compartment No.45/76 Dudu Range District Udhampur since last about two and half years. The complainant has further stated in his complaint that the payment of about 10% is due to him against the work done by him in the said compartments and for release of payment / preparation of documents Sh. Puran Chand Bhagat, Divisional Manager State Forest Corporation (SFC), Udhampur is demanding an amount of Rs.48,000/- as illegal bribe from him. The complainant has further alleged that the said Divisional Manager insisted him to pay Rs.30,000/- as advance and rest of Rs.18,000/- after release of the payment. In view of compelling circumstances, the complainant is agreed to pay Rs.30,000/- as advance bribe money to the said officer on 21.05.2019 and rest of the amount of Rs. 18000/- after release of payment / preparation of documents.

Accordingly, a trap team under the command of Sh. Kartar Singh Kotwal Dy.SP was constituted and a successful trap was laid against the said officer and during trap he was caught red handed while demanding and accepting illegal gratification of Rs. 30,000/- from the complainant by the ACB sleuths, in the presence of independent witnesses in office cum residence complex at Udhampur. The accused officer has been arrested in the case for further investigation.