Jammu, March 17 – The J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a meter reader from the electricity department on Tuesday while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 in the Rajouri district.
An ACB spokesperson said the meter reader, who was stationed with the PDD in Rajouri, was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe from a complainant in exchange for reducing an inflated electricity bill.
The spokesperson said that the ACB registered a case against Arif Iqbal, who was stationed as a meter reader in the PDD Rajouri, under FIR No. 03/2026 at the ACB police station in Rajouri, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), on March 17, 2026.
The complainant alleged that he had run a tyre shop from 2019 to 2021, after which it was closed.
The complainant had an electricity connection and was regularly paying his bills. He received a bill for the period from December 31, 2025 to January 31, 2026, amounting to Rs 2,497, in February 2026.
According to the complaint, Arif Iqbal met him and demanded Rs 50,000, saying he would “take care” of the bill. The complainant told him he would pay according to the meter reading.
After this, the meter reader allegedly threatened to increase the bill.
On March 5, 2026, Arif Iqbal returned and handed over a bill for the period from January 31, 2026 to February 28, 2026, amounting to Rs 1,53,890, with a due date of March 27, 2026.
When questioned about the inflated bill, the meter reader demanded Rs 50,000 as a bribe to have it adjusted.
The demand was later negotiated to Rs 30,000. Since the complainant did not wish to pay the bribe, he lodged a written complaint with the ACB Rajouri seeking legal action.
After the case was registered, a trap team of the ACB police station in Rajouri was constituted.
The team caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000.
He was arrested on the spot.
Searches were also conducted at the accused's residence in Rajouri. Further investigation is underway, the ACB spokesperson said.