STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday trapped and arrested Ashiq Hussain Shah, Patwari of Patwar Halqa Pinjura Pehlipora, Shopian, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 for providing a favourable report in a land-related matter.
According to an official spokesperson of the ACB, the Bureau received a written complaint from a complainant alleging that he had submitted an application at the Tehsil Office, Shopian, seeking equal distribution of ancestral property among his wife and sister-in-law, who are among four sisters entitled to the property. The application was submitted around three months ago and was subsequently forwarded by the concerned Tehsildar, Shopian, to the Patwari for necessary verification and report. “When the complainant approached the Patwari concerned for processing the case, the accused Patwari demanded a bribe of Rs 25,000 for furnishing a favourable report,” the ACB official said. Unwilling to succumb to corruption, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau for legal action under the provisions of law.
The spokesperson further stated that upon receipt of the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification, which confirmed the demand of bribe by the accused public servant. Accordingly, FIR No. 05/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered at Police Station ACB Anantnag, and a formal investigation was initiated.
During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted. “The team laid a well-planned trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount from the complainant,” the official added. The accused was immediately arrested on the spot, and the tainted bribe money of Rs 25,000 was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap proceedings.
Following the arrest, the ACB team conducted a search of the residential premises of the accused Patwari, which was carried out in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses, as per legal procedure.
The ACB spokesperson confirmed that further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the accused was involved in similar corrupt practices. The Anti-Corruption Bureau has reiterated its commitment to zero tolerance against corruption and urged citizens to report instances of bribery and misuse of official position without fear.