The Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday said that it trapped and arrested a revenue official in Kawarhama area of Baramulla district for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 5,000 for issuance and processing of revenue extract.
According to a statement issued here, ACB received a complaint from a resident of Magam alleging therein that Showkat Ali, Patwari Halqa Waripora is demanding bribe of ₹ 9000 from him for issuance and processing of revenue extract for which he has already applied online etc.
The statement reads that the complainant in his complaint alleged that he and his brother had purchased a piece of land measuring 10 marlas under survey No. 786 situated at Pinjoora from a person.
“The owner of the land has executed an Agreement with complainant and the land is under the possession of the complainant. He further stated that he approached Patwari for issuance of revenue extract. The Patwari demanded Rs 10,000 for issuance of required documents. The complainant requested the Patwari that he is a poor man and cannot pay this amount but he told him to pay ₹9000 otherwise the work will not be done. He further alleged that the Patwari told the complainant to bring ₹5000 as first instalment on 26-07-2023.”
It added that under these circumstances the complainant approached ACB, stating that he doesn’t want to pay bribe and requested for legal action against the Patwari concerned.
“As the contents of complaint prima facie disclosed the commission of offence punishable U/S 7 of the PC Act 1988 (as amended in 2018) by accused, a case FIR No. 07/2023 was registered at Police Station Anti Corruption Bureau, Baramulla U/S 7 of the P.C Act 1988 against him.”
It further reads that during the course of investigation trap team was constituted which laid a successful trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of ₹5,000.
“He was arrested on the spot after completing all legal formalities. Further investigation in the case is going on,” it reads.
