J&K ACB Arrests Mohammad Shaban Chopan, DDC Member and his tout while demanding and accepting bribe of ₹50,000

Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau ACB received a written complaint, alleging therein that the complainant is running scholar boarding school along with swimming pool and Guest house at Check Dara, Harwan, Srinagar from long time ago and have been running it peacefully. Recently, an official inspection was conducted at the site, through which the complainant came to know that the inspection was arranged by the DDC Member namely Mohammad Shaban Chopan S/o Ghulam Qadir Chopan, R/o Dara Harwan, Srinagar. And There after the DDC Member, through his tout namely Ghulam Mohammad Khathana S/o Mukeem Khathana R/o Dara Harwan, Srinagar demanded a bribe of ₹5,00,000 and complainant was asked to pay ₹50,000 as the first installment and a blank signed Cheque. The complainant was further told that he should pay the remaining amount after getting the required clearances and matter resolved. The complainant further alleged that this all was done on behest of above said DDC member only to create pressure and find a reason to demand money from him.

Acting on the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification through a designated officer. The verification report confirmed the allegations and substantiated that the public servant through his tout had indeed demanded illegal gratification.

On the basis of the complaint and verification report, a case FIR No. 12/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended) r/w 61(2) BNS, was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar. Subsequently, a trap team was constituted, and a successful trap was laid.

During the trap operation, the accused public servant and his tout was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting ₹50,000 and a blank signed Cheque from the complainant. They were immediately apprehended on the spot.

Further investigation in the matter is ongoing.

ACB reiterates its commitment to act against corruption and appeals to the general public to report any such instances through the dedicated helpline or by approaching the nearest ACB office.

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