Srinagar, April 1: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested two public servants, including a Regional Provident Fund Commissioner and a Senior Security Assistant of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization in Srinagar, in a bribery case, officials said.
The arrests were made after the agency caught the accused allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a complainant in the Batmaloo area of the city.
The development is significant as it involves senior officials of a key government organisation and highlights ongoing anti-corruption efforts in the region.
According to the CBI, the case was registered on March 31 following allegations that the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner had demanded a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh from the complainant.
The demand was allegedly made in exchange for not initiating adverse action and avoiding imposition of a penalty against the complainant’s institution.
Officials said a trap was laid on the same day, during which the Senior Security Assistant was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 50,000 on behalf of the Commissioner.
The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner was subsequently arrested after it was established that the bribe was being received through the assistant acting as a middleman.
The accused were taken into custody and further investigation in the case is underway, officials said.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has reiterated that bribery is a punishable offence and urged citizens to report corruption.
Further proceedings in the case will be taken up as part of the ongoing investigation. [KNT]
