Naib Tehsildar caught red handed for demanding, accepting bribe of 50,000 in Uri: ACB

Srinagar Sep 15: Anti Corruption Bureau JK on Sunday said that it caught red handed Naib Tehsildar for demanding and accepting bribe of amount fifty thousand from the complainant.

In a handout to GNS, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau said that it received a complaint against Naib Tehsildar Uri Altaf Hussain Khan alleging therein that said officer is demanding bribe of Rs. 10 lacs from complainant for preparing land documents and for submitting report to Tehsildar Uri on application moved by the complainant before Tehsildar Uri few days back.

According to spokesman, it was alleged  by complainant that he had purchased a piece of land measuring 10 marlas falling under survey 307 at Rajarwani, Uri from one Mohd Sadeeq R/o Bandi Brahmana Uri and also constructed a house on it ,the plot was purchased  for an amount of Rs 5 lacs but seller fail to provide him revenue documents of said land in time as per sale agreement entered between parties due to which complainant couldn’t get mutation of said land done in his favor therefore he approached Tehsildar Uri with application .

That Tehsildar Uri directed Patwari to visit spot and submit the report in matter, when complainant approached Patwari Pardeep Kumar he took complainant to Naib Tehsildar Uri namely, Altaf Hussain Khan where Naib Tehsildar demanded bribe of Rs 10 lac from complainant in presence of patwari which was later on negotiated by Sarpanch of the area and finally, it was decided that complainant will pay first installment of  fifty thousand to Naib tehsildar uri before report is submitted, he said.

That as complainant was not in favour of paying bribe, he approached ACB with written complaint requesting therein legal action against Naib Tehsidlar Uri Altaf Hussain Khan for demanding bribe from him, he said.

On receipt of the complaint ,the allegations were verified discreetly  by the Anti Corruption Bureau PS ACB Baramulla ,the probe conducted reveal that NT Uri Altaf Hussain was demanding bribe from complainant ,which confirms the demand of bribe by the accused Naib tehsildar Altaf Hussain Khan as well as abetment by Patwari Pardeep Kumar who took complainant to NT without preparing any report & ask complainant to do what  Naib Tehsildar is asking for before report /documents are prepared, he said.

Accordingly on the basis of findings and recommendations of the enquiry officer,  a case FIR No. 12/2024 under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (r/w its amendment act 2018) is registered on 14-09-2024 in P/S ACB Baramulla against Altaf Hussain Khan, Naib Tehsildar Uri District Baramulla for demanding bribe & under section 12 of PC Act 1988 against Pardeep Kumar, Patwari  for abetment and investigation was set into motion, he said.

During investigation, a trap team headed by Dy.SP rank officer was constituted at PS ACB Baramulla. The team laid a successful trap and accused Naib Tehsildar was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 50,000/-  from complainant. Accordingly, after completing all legal formalities the accused Naib Tehsildar namely, Altaf Hussain Khan was arrested on the spot . The bribe money of  Rs 50,000/-  was also recovered in the presence of independent witnesses, he said.

It was also found that said Naib Tehsildar was recently booked by ACB Baramulla in case FIR No 08/2024 of PS ACB Baramulla with other officials of revenue department for abuse of official position &  insertions in revenue record etc which is also under investigation, he said.

The accused was presented before Hon’ble court of spl judge anti corruption court Baramulla and was remanded for ten days police custody, he said.

Further investigation of the instant case is going on. The role of patwari & sarpanch are being looked into, reads the statement.