Anantnag, August 23(KNS): The Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Anantnag, presided over by Masarat Roohi, has convicted Habibullah Kumar, then Junior Assistant in the Rural Development Department, in a bribery case registered under FIR No. 25/2009 by the then Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (now Anti-Corruption Bureau).

The court found Habibullah Kumar guilty under Section 5(1)(d) read with Section 5(2) of the Jammu and Kashmir Prevention of Corruption Act, Svt. 2006, and sentenced him to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of two years along with a fine of ?21,000. In case of default in payment of the fine, the accused shall undergo further simple imprisonment for six months.

According to case details, on 10 September 2009, a complaint was lodged by Bashir Ahmad Dar, a helper in the Block Development Office, Larkipora, Anantnag.

The complainant stated that he and five other helpers had been granted in-situ promotion with effect from 1 November 2008 and that when he approached the then in-charge of establishment, Habibullah Kumar, for preparation of arrear bills, a bribe of ?Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel1800 was demanded.

Following this complaint, the Anti-Corruption Bureau registered the case and conducted a trap operation during which the accused was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount from the complainant. After completion of the investigation, a charge sheet was filed, and the case proceeded to trial.

The court delivered its judgment after examining the evidence and hearing submissions from the Special Public Prosecutor, Ajaz Ahmad Parvaiz (Chief Prosecuting Officer, ACB), and the defence counsel.

The conviction marks the conclusion of legal proceedings in a case that originated in 2009, reaffirming the role of the Anti-Corruption Bureau in prosecuting cases of public sector corruption.(KNS).