The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Srinagar has registered a formal case against sitting District Development Council (DDC) Member and his associate Ghulam Mohammad Khathana for allegedly demanding a bribe of ₹5 lakh in exchange for arranging official NOCs for a local school.
In a statement, ACB, Srinagar has registered a case FIR No. 12/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended 2018), section 61(2) BNS against a sitting District Development Council (DDC) Member Mohammad Shaban Chopan, S/o Ghulam Qadir Chopan, R/o Dara Harwan, and his Tout Ghulam Mohammad Khathana, S/o Mukeem Khathana, R/o Dara Harwan, for demanding illegal gratification in lieu of arranging official clearances.
The case was registered on the basis of a written complaint received by this P/S against BDC member Mohammad Shaban Chopan, S/o Ghulam Qadir Chopan, R/o Dara Harwan, and his a tout Ghulam Mohammad Khathana, S/o Mukeem Khathana, R/o Dara Harwan, demanded a bribe of ₹5,00,000/- from him for facilitating the issuance of required No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for his Scholars Boarding school established at Dara, it reads.
Statement reads that, The complainant further alleged that the DDC Member managed an official inspection of his premises as a means to exert pressure and create a false ground for demanding the bribe. An initial installment of 50,000/- along with Blank sign Cheque was demanded as part of the total bribe amount.
The allegations were discreetly verified by ACB, and the verification confirmed the authenticity of the claims made in the complaint. The verification report clearly established demand of bribe by the public representative through his tout, it reads.
Accordingly FIR No. 12/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and section 61(2) BNS was registered in Police Station ACB Srinagar, and further investigation is underway, it reads.
ACB reiterates its commitment to act against corruption and appeals to the general public to report any such instances through the dedicated helpline or by approaching the nearest ACB office, reads the statement. (News Agency)