Treasury officer, accountant arrested for graft in Kashmir

Srinagar, Dec 21 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today caught red handed a treasury officer and an accountant while accepting a bribe of Rs 500.

A vigilance spokesman said Mohammad Anwar Ganai, Treasury Officer Sumbal, Sonawari and his Accountant Ghulam Qadir Sheikh were arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 500 from Bashir Ahmed Shah, a retired official of the Power Development Department (PDD) for payment of arrears.

He said Shah had lodged a written complaint with the vigilance organisation, alleging that Ganai was demanding an illegal gratification of Rs 1000 from him for payment of arrears of Rs 33,000 already cleared by his department.

On persuasion, the treasury officer agreed for Rs 500, the complainant said, adding he also demanded and accepted Rs 2000 from him as bribe for passing his leave salary bill for Rs 99,000.

A case has been registered against him and investigations launched in this regard. Vigilance sleuths laid a trap during which the accused accountant was caught while accepting Rs 500 from the complainant, the spokesman added.

He said Ganai had told Shah to hand over the money to Sheikh. The cheque for Rs 33,000 drawn in favour of the complainant was also seized from the treasury officer. Both the officials have been taken into custody for further investigations.

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