ACB traps, arrests Junior Assistant for ₹15,000 bribe

Ajay Kumar caught red-handed while allegedly accepting illegal gratification for issuance of marriage certificate

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday trapped and arrested Ajay Kumar, a Junior Assistant posted in the Office of the Assistant Commissioner (General), Jammu, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹15,000.According to the ACB, a written complaint was received alleging that the accused public servant had demanded ₹20,000 from the complainant for issuance of a Marriage Certificate under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. Following negotiations, the accused allegedly agreed to accept ₹15,000 as illegal gratification.

The complainant, unwilling to pay the bribe, approached the ACB and sought legal action against the accused. During discreet verification of the complaint, the ACB established a prima facie case regarding the alleged demand for bribe.Accordingly, FIR No. 11/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, was registered at Police Station ACB Central J&K, Jammu, and investigation was initiated.

The ACB subsequently constituted a trap team, which laid a successful trap and allegedly caught Ajay Kumar red-handed while demanding and accepting ₹15,000 from the complainant. The accused was arrested on the spot, while the alleged bribe amount was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses.

Following the arrest, the ACB also conducted searches at the residential premises of the accused government employee in the presence of an Executive Magistrate and independent witnesses.Further investigation into the case is in progress.