Divisional Manager Arrested for Bribery in Himachal Pradesh

A divisional manager of the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation in Nahan was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe. The manager, Ashwani Kumar Verma, had demanded a commission for clearing pending bills. Following a complaint, the State Vigilance & Anti Corruption Bureau arrested Verma and an investigation is underway.

A divisional manager of the Himachal Pradesh State Forest Development Corporation in Nahan was apprehended on charges of bribery, according to officials on Friday.

The manager, identified as Ashwani Kumar Verma, reportedly asked for a 2 percent commission from a complainant to clear pending bills amounting to Rs 67 lakh.

Subsequently, the complainant reached out to the HP State Vigilance & Anti Corruption Bureau, which resulted in Verma's arrest while allegedly accepting a Rs 50,000 bribe.

Verma has been booked, and an exhaustive investigation is in progress.

In a separate incident, the HP State Vigilance & Anti Corruption Bureau seized illegal deodar timber and planks from Samudayik Bhavan in Shimla district, leading to a new case.

(With inputs from agencies.)