ACB arrests Patwari for accepting bribe of Rs 40,000 in Srinagar

Srinagar, Jul 16: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday said to have trapped and arrested Patwari Halqa Chanapora, Srinagar while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 40,000 for issuance of revenue extracts.

A spokesman in a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau received a written complaint wherein it was alleged that Patwari Halqa Chanapora Srinagar, Farooq Ahmad Bhat, resident of Bugam Chadoora is demanding Rs 40,000 as bribe for issuance of revenue extracts in respect of his residential house alongwith 15 marlas land situated at Ghurdawara Lane Chanapora Srinagar which he has sold out, for which he had applied Online at Patwari Halqa Chanapora Srinagar before 15 days.

“The complainant stated that he is against the bribe and approached before Anti Corruption Bureau ACB Srinagar for taking legal action against the accused public servants under law. On receipt of the complaint the discreet verification was conducted, which confirms the demand by the public servant concerned and accordingly, a case under FIR number 17/2024 under section 7 PC Act 1988 was registered in this Bureau and investigation was taken up,” the statement said.

During the course of investigation a trap team constituted, the statement reads, adding that the team laid a successful trap and caught the accused public servant Farooq Ahmad Bhat R/o Bugam Chadoora, Patwari Halqa Chanapora red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of Rs 40,000 from the complainant at Patwar Halqa Chanapora.

During personal search of the accused Patwari including other items, cash amount of Rs 35,000 was also recovered and seized in the instant case. He was arrested on the spot, the statement reads, adding that further investigation of the instant case is going on.