J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau Arrests Social Welfare Official in Kathua for Bribe Demand

JAMMU – April 6, 2026
The J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has successfully trapped and arrested Des Raj, a Junior Assistant in the Social Welfare Department at Billawar, District Kathua, for demanding and accepting a bribe from a local resident.

The arrest follows a formal complaint lodged by a father seeking the release of funds under the State Marriage Assistance Scheme for his daughter’s upcoming wedding on April 16. The accused official initially demanded ₹10,000 to process the ₹50,000 assistance grant, eventually negotiating the sum down to ₹5,000.

After the complainant had already paid an initial installment of ₹1,500, the official’s persistent demand for the remaining balance prompted the victim to seek legal intervention through the ACB.

Following a discreet verification that confirmed the illicit demand, the ACB Jammu registered FIR No. 03/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. A specialized trap team was constituted and successfully caught the public servant red-handed while he was accepting the bribe money in the presence of independent witnesses.

The bribe amount was recovered on the spot, and the accused was immediately taken into custody. In a continuation of the legal process, authorities conducted a search of his residence in Kishanpur, Billawar, overseen by a Magistrate. The investigation remains ongoing as the ACB reinforces its commitment to rooting out corruption within public service departments.