Overview
- The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested forest guard Vaseem Ahmad Hap on Monday after a trap allegedly caught him accepting ₹15,000 from a complainant, and officials recovered the cash in the presence of independent witnesses.
- The complainant had accused the guard of demanding ₹20,000 to expedite release of security deposits for allotted works and said the amount was later negotiated to ₹15,000 before the ACB was contacted.
- ACB registered FIR No. 07/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act at Police Station ACB Central Jammu and immediately launched an investigation.
- Investigators searched the accused’s home with an executive magistrate and independent witnesses present, and officials say no other arrests have been reported so far as the probe continues.
- The case highlights a common vulnerability in local public-works processes—security-deposit release steps—and the ACB’s use of discreet verification and trap teams could prompt tighter checks on how deposits are processed.