STATE TIMES NEWS
URI: Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau has arrested a Naib Tehsildar (NT) while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 50,000 for preparing land documents.
According to a statement, Naib Tehsildar Uri Altaf Hussain Khan was arrested on the spot and the bribe money of Rs 50,000 was also recovered in the presence of independent witnesses.
The arrest followed a complaint against Naib Tehsildar Uri Altaf Hussain Khan was received by the ACB, alleging therein that he was demanding bribe of Rs. 10 lakh 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.
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 resident Bandi Brahmana Uri and also constructed a house on it. The plot was purchased for Rs 5 lakhs but seller failed to provide him revenue documents of the land in time as per sale agreement entered between parties due to which complainant couldn’t get mutation done in his favor and, therefore, he approached Tehsildar Uri with application .
The Tehsildar Uri directed Patwari to visit spot and submit the report in the matter. When the complainant approached Patwari Pardeep Kumar he took complainant to Naib Tehsildar Uri, Altaf Hussain Khan who demanded bribe of Rs 10 lakhs from the 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 Rs 50,000 to Naib Tehsildar Uri before report is submitted.
The complainant was not in favour of paying bribe and he approached the ACB with written complaint requesting therein legal action against Naib Tehsidlar Uri Altaf Hussain Khan for demanding bribe from him.
On receipt of the complaint ,the allegations were verified discreetly by the Anti Corruption Bureau PS ACB Baramulla. The probe revealed that NT Uri Altaf Hussain was demanding bribe from complainant ,which confirmed the demand of bribe by the accused as well as abetment by Patwari Pardeep Kumar, who took the complainant to NT without preparing any report and asked him to do what the Naib Tehsildar is asking for before report and documents are prepared.
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 ( read with its amendment Act 2018) was registered on September 14, 2024 in P/S ACB Baramulla against Altaf Hussain Khan, Naib Tehsildar Uri District Baramulla for demanding bribe and under Section 12 of PC Act 1988 against Pardeep Kumar, Patwari for abetment and investigation was set into motion.
During investigation, a trap team headed by Dy.SP rank officer was constituted at PS ACB Baramulla. The team laid a successful trap and caught red-handed the accused while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs. 50,000/- from complainant. Accordingly, after completing all legal formalities the accused was arrested on the spot .
According to the statement, it was also found that the said Naib Tehsildar was recently booked by the ACB Baramulla in case FIR No 08/2024 with other officials of the Revenue Department for abuse of official position and insertions in the revenue record etc, which is also under investigation.
The accused was presented before the court of Spl Judge Anti Corruption Court Baramulla and remanded for 10 days police custody.
Further investigation of the instant case is going on. The role of Patwari and Sarpanch is being looked into.