STATE TIMES NEWS
KATHUA: A government official was caught arrested on Thursday while accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000 in Kathua district, an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) spokesperson said.
Ramesh Kumar, Patwari of Halqa Baddu in Billawar Tehsil was trapped on the complaint of Hukam Chand and was booked under relevant sections of the law, the spokesperson said.
He said Chand had lodged a complaint alleging that the official was demanding bribe for preparing revenue extract (fard).
A team of officers was constituted and a trap laid against the revenue official who was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe money, the spokesperson said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Gulshan Singh, Patwari, Halqa Machedi, Kathua for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 3000 for issuance of Virasati Intqal and legal heir certificate.
According to ACB statement, J&K Anti Corruption Bureau received a written complaint from a resident of Machhedi, District Kathua alleging therein that Gulshan Singh, Patwari, Halqa Machhedi, Kathua was demanding bribe of Rs 5000 from him for issuance of Virsati Intqal mutations and legal heir certificate. The complainant applied through online portal of Revenue Department and met Patwari for issuance of the same.
The Patwari received and amount of Rs 2000 as advance and further demanded balance Rs 3000 from the complainant for issuance of the documents.
As the contents of complaint prima facie disclosed the commission of offence punishable U/s 7 of the PC Act 1988, accordingly a Case FIR No. 02/2024 was registered at Police Station ACB Central and the investigation taken up.
During the course of investigation a trap team was constituted which laid a trap and caught the accused Patwari red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of Rs 3000 in presence of independent witnesses. He was arrested on the spot after completing all legal formalities. After the arrest of the accused, searches were also conducted in the residential house of the accused situated at Ward No. 21, Ram Nagar Colony, Kathua.
