Kupwara, June 21: In a glaring case of corruption, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday arrested Ghulam Rasool Bhat, Tehsildar of Qaziabad Kralgund, Handwara, for allegedly demanding a ₹1 lakh bribe in exchange for issuing permissions to cut walnut trees.
He was caught red-handed accepting the second installment of ₹50,000 from a distressed applicant at his private residence in Handwara.
According to the ACB, the complainant, a poor resident of Handwara, approached the bureau alleging that Tehsildar Bhat had demanded ₹1 lakh to issue two permissions for felling walnut trees.
Despite explaining his inability to pay, the complainant was allegedly pressured into paying ₹50,000 upfront. Bhat then refused to process the application until the remaining amount was also paid.
Following discreet verification of the complaint, ACB registered FIR No. 04/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (as amended in 2018) and set up a trap. Bhat and his alleged tout, Rafi Ahmad Lone of Pathora Kralgund, were arrested on the spot while accepting the remaining ₹50,000 at the officer’s residence.
During the search operation, the ACB recovered the bribe money and an additional ₹79,000 in unaccounted cash. Both accused were remanded to seven days of police custody by the Special Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla.
This isn’t Bhat’s first run-in with the law. In 2021, he was booked by the ACB in a separate case involving illegal land mutations. More verifications are reportedly underway to ascertain his involvement in other corruption-related matters, including the possible collusion of other officials.
The case has once again exposed how routine administrative permissions are being turned into tools of extortion by officials entrusted with public service
