HYDERABAD: A team of anti-corruption establishment (ACE) caught an executive engineer of buildings department red-handed while receiving a bribe of Rs100,000 from a contractor in his office on Thursday.

Wasim Ursani, the contractor, had submitted a complaint to ACE deputy director Zakir Samoon, stating that the officer, Qazi Farooq Memon, who had additional charge of roads department had stopped taking his calls after he had submitted security deposits against the contracts. He was demanding Rs200,000 as bribe. He claimed that the officer had already received Rs100,000 from him. ACE he was awarded two contracts of Rs2.25 million and Rs0.9m for highways and building related works.

He said that he had paid 20pc commission to officer through cheque for Rs500,000 and cash of Rs120,000. After completion of work, he wanted to get his call and security deposits but officer did not agree and demanded Rs200,000 and finally settled for Rs100,000.

The ACE team was led by circle officer Sher Mohammad Sangi. The team recovered tinted currency notes and Rs54,000 during body search of officer as well.

The officer is in custody and a case has been lodged, according to ACE officer, Sangi. Qazi Farooq said that he is innocent and contractor had trapped.

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2018