Drug Control Officer arrested for bribery in Handwara

Ishtiyaq Ahmad Baba, a Drug Control Officer in Handwara, has been apprehended by the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹10,000 from a pharmaceutical distributor. The distributor, who holds a valid license, claimed that Baba demanded the bribe for the release of medicines seized by the officer.

Ishtiyaq Ahmad Baba Drug control Officer Handwara arrested by ACB for demanding and accepting bribe of ₹10,000 from complainant for releasing seized medicines. More details on https://t.co/yj4ZgHXIkd @diprjk @JmuKmrPolice

— J&K Anti Corruption Bureau (@JKACB) November 15, 2023

According to the complaint, Baba initially seized medicines from the distributor, issued a notice, and then demanded ₹10,000, threatening to cancel the distributor’s license if he refused to pay. The distributor, refusing to succumb to bribery, approached the ACB Baramulla with a written complaint, leading to a discreet verification.

The investigation revealed that Baba had already accepted ₹8,000 as a bribe on November 9, 2023, and was demanding an additional ₹2,000 for releasing the seized medicines. A case (FIR No. 12/2023) under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 was registered against Baba, and he was caught red-handed while accepting the remaining amount.

Baba was taken into custody and presented before the court in Baramulla, which remanded him to police custody. Simultaneous searches at his residence in Bemina Hamdina Colony led to the recovery of ₹2 lakh in cash, which was seized. The investigation is ongoing, with the ACB committed to addressing corruption within public services.