ACB arrests two forest officials for taking Rs 37,000 bribe in Rajouri

Srinagar, Mar 27: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Friday said they have arrested a Forest Guard and a Forester in Rajouri after catching them red-handed while accepting Rs 7,000, taking the total bribe amount to Rs 37,000 in a case of alleged extortion over a land dispute, officials said.

In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the J&K Anti Corruption Bureau registered a formal case against Md. Zaman Forest Guard and Ajaz Ahmed Forester, posted in Forest Department Bakori, Rajouri vide FIR no. 04/2026 at P/S ACB Rajouri u/s 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) on 27.03.2026 on the basis of a complaint alleging therein that complainant was digging a septic tank and underground Tank in his land, where his house is already constructed.

He said, on 13/03/2026, Md. Zaman Forest Guard came to his house and stopped the digging work, on the pretext that the land falls under forest department. Complainant told him that this is his own land, but he did not listen anything. He demanded a bribe of rupees 50,000/- and threatened if complainant would not give him the bribe amount he would not allow me to work.

“Due To fear and pressure, complainant was forced to pay ₹30,000 which was transferred on the spot to the account given by guard Md. Zaman and Ajaz Ahmed forester. But again both of them kept on threatening and harassing the complainant to pay more bribe of ₹10,000.”

He added, the complainant upon being harassed and forced to pay illegal gratification to the above named suspect officials, he approached and lodged a written complaint in Police Station ACB Rajouri for taking legal action against the above named suspect officials.

“After registration of the case, a team of officers/officials of ACB P/S Rajouri was constituted to lay a trap and ACB team caught red handed both accused Mohd. Zaman Forest Guard & Ajaz Ahmed, Forester both posted in Forest Department, Range Kandi Rajouri while demanding and accepting bribe of ₹7,000 from the complainant and arrested them on spot,” said the spokesperson.

He said, subsequently, searches were also conducted in the residential house of accused persons situated at Rajouri. Further investigation in the case is going on.