ACB arrests Patwari in Budgam for demanding bribe

Srinagar Jan 10: Acting on a complaint, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday said it has arrested a Patwari from Budgam for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of rupees 10,000 / 30,000 for issuance of a revenue extract and bank lien certificate.

According to a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-l Corruption Bureau received a written complaint wherein the complainant has alleged that he had applied before the concerned Revenue authorities for issuance of Revenue extract and bank lien certificate for the said property situated at Rakh Soothu BK Pora for Bank Guarantee. For getting these documents he approached the concerned patwari of Halqa Rakh Soothu, namely Riyaz Ahmad Khan, but instead of processing the case in due manner, the concerned patwari demanded bribe of rupees 10,000 / 30,000 before he would prepare and provide the required documents.

The statement reads, the complainant, stating that he is against corruption, has approached ACB Srinagar seeking legal action against the accused official. On receipt of the complaint, discreet verification was conducted, which confirmed the demand of bribe by the accused public servant.

“Accordingly, Case FIR No. 02/2026 U/S 7 PC Act 1988 was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar and investigation was taken up. During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted which laid a successful trap and caught the accused Riyaz Ahmad Khan, Patwari Halqa Rakh Soothe, Budgam red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of ₹10,000  from the complainant.”

It reads, after completing all necessary medico-Legal formalities, the accused public servant was taken into custody. Further investigation is going on.