Port Blair, Nov. 29: Displaying exemplary resolve in weeding out corruption in these Islands, a team of Anti-Corruption Unit arrested Dr. Arun Kumar Jha, SDM/Sub-Registrar, South Andaman, on 27/11/2015 for demanding and accepting illegal gratification in the form of tainted money to the tune of Rs.20,000/-.
On 27/11/2015, a written complaint received in this Unit that an official of Revenue Department, Port Blair was demanding bribe for conversion of commercial land. Accordingly, an FIR under relevant sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered at PS Anti – Corruption Unit. Subsequently, a trap laying team was formed at PS Anti-Corruption Unit comprising of independent witnesses. The team left from PS Anti-Corruption to the Sub- Registrar office, South Andaman, where the demanded bribe is to be paid to the alleged official. On receipt of the approved signal from the complainant, the trap team intercepted Dr. Arun Kumar Jha, SDM/ Sub –Registrar, Revenue Department, South Andaman and caught him red handed with the tainted money of Rs.20,000/- at his Chamber.
After observing all codal formalities, he was arrested at the spot and was brought to Police Station, Anti Corruption and produced before the Hon’ble Court on 28/11/2015.
Meanwhile, the defence has claimed Jha as innocent and said that he has been trapped. Jha's defence claimed that the complainant is no way connected to case in question. The land is registered in the name of one Smti Radhika Devi who had applied for land diversion. The SDM had cleared the case on 14th Nov. 2015 and there is no point in accepting any illegal gratification for a case, which has already been cleared, claimed the defence.
Arun Kumar Jha after being produced before the Hon’ble Court has been sent to a two-day Judicial Custody till Monday 30th Nov. 2015 when his case will be presented before a Special Judge.
The Andaman & Nicobar Police has requested the general public to provide information about corrupt activities of any public servant to the SP & Dy. SP, Anti Corruption Unit on Nos. 240840, 9531856173 and 9434289985.
News Link : http://www.andamanchronicle.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7825:sdm-sub-registrar-south-andaman-dr-arun-kumar-jha-arrested-by-anti-corruption&catid=37:top-news&Itemid=142
