Jammu, Feb 1: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Rahul Gandotra, a Junior Engineer serving as Technical Assistant at BDO Office Gulabgarh Mahore in Reasi district, after catching him red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹8,000 on Sunday. The arrest is particularly significant as Gandotra already faces three pending cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The ACB registered FIR No. 03/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 at Police Station ACB Udhampur following a complaint against the accused public servant.
According to the ACB statement, Gandotra demanded the bribe from the complainant for preparing a bill related to Rural Development Department (RDD) work executed by the complainant. Unwilling to pay the illegal gratification, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau seeking legal action.
Following the complaint, ACB conducted discreet verification that corroborated the bribe demand. Based on the findings, the case was registered and investigation initiated at PS ACB Udhampur.
A trap team led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police-rank officer was constituted during the investigation. The team successfully caught Gandotra while he was demanding and accepting the ₹8,000 bribe from the complainant in the presence of independent witnesses.
The accused was arrested on the spot following due legal process. The bribe money was recovered from his possession before independent witnesses associated with the trap operation. Subsequently, ACB conducted a search at Gandotra’s residence at House No. 215, Ward No. 24, Rehari, Jammu, in the presence of a magistrate.
Notably, three FIRs under the Prevention of Corruption Act have already been registered against Gandotra at Police Station ACB Udhampur, all of which remain under investigation.
Further investigation into the current case is ongoing.
