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Srinagar, Feb 20 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation (VO) has produced a challan in a court against former Chief Engineer Roads and Buildings (R&B) Kashmir, Nazir Ahmad Shah, who was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 in March last year.

The chief engineer was caught red-handed accepting the bribe from a contractor in consideration of issuing an allotment order for construction of a footbridge at Kulangam, Handwara, on March 30, 2007.

Giving case details, a spokesman for the VO said a written complaint was received from one Altaf Hussain Teli, a contractor, in which he alleged that the accused chief engineer was demanding the bribe for alloting the work to him though his tender was found lowest.

The rates were further negotiated and he was to get an allotment for construction of foot bridge over Puhroo Nallah from the chief engineer, who demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 for issuing the allotment order.

The VO, in the presence of independent witnesses, caught red-handed Nazir Ahmed Shah while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from the complainant on roadside at Karan Nagar.

The tainted money and the relevant file which the Chief Engineer was carrying in his official car were recovered on the spot in the presence of independent witnesses.

The hand and pocket wash of the accused tested positive and he was taken into custody.

He said after completing an investigation of the case and accord of sanction for prosecution, the challan of the case was produced in the court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption (Kashmir).

At the time of presentation of the challan, the accused, already on bail, preferred to remain absent following which the court issued an arrest warrant for him.

The next date of hearing has been set as March 27.

UNI BAS AM DS1301