ACB arrests Patwari for accepting Rs 15,000 bribe in J&K's Poonch

Poonch, Sep 19: Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday said to have trapped and arrested a Patwari of Patwar Halqa Shahpur, Poonch for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000.

As per a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the spokesman said that Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has trapped and arrested Jameel Ahmed Bhat, Patwari of Patwar Halqa Shahpur, District Poonch, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000.

“The action followed a written complaint received by the ACB, alleging that the complainant's house was damaged during recent heavy rainfall. A report regarding the damage had been filed at Police Station Poonch. When the complainant approached the concerned Patwari, Jameel Ahmed Bhat, along with the police report and completed application forms for compensation, the Patwari allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 for processing the case,” the spokesman said.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant—being financially constrained—approached the ACB and filed a formal complaint seeking legal action against the accused, the statement reads.

Upon receipt of the complaint, the ACB said that a case under FIR number 06/2025 was registered at Police Station ACB Rajouri under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), and an investigation was initiated.

“During the course of investigation, a team from ACB Rajouri laid a trap and caught the accused Patwari red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 15,000 from the complainant. He was immediately arrested on the spot. Subsequent searches were also conducted at his residential premises,” the statement reads, adding that further investigation in the case is underway.