Corruption Crackdown in Kashmir: Meter Reader Nabbed for Bribery

A meter reader from the Power Development Department in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajouri district, was arrested for demanding a Rs 30,000 bribe. A complaint led to the Anti-Corruption Bureau's intervention, where the accused was caught accepting the bribe. Investigations and searches at his residence are ongoing.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir has arrested a meter reader from the Power Development Department in Rajouri district. The official is accused of demanding a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a consumer, with the arrest taking place during a sting operation.

According to an ACB spokesperson, the accused, identified as Arif Iqbal, allegedly threatened that the consumer's electricity bill would be inflated if the bribe was not paid. Initially demanding Rs 50,000 to 'manage' the billing, the amount was negotiated to Rs 30,000.

Upon receiving the complaint, the ACB set up a trap, resulting in the arrest of the meter reader as the bribe was accepted. Searches at the accused's residence were also conducted, and further investigations are ongoing to unravel more details.

(With inputs from agencies.)