Srinagar, Mar 04: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) Friday trapped and arrested a Patwari of Halqa Goom, Ahmadpora at Tehsil Pattan in Baramulla district for demanding a bribe of Rs 20,000 from the complainant.

A statement issued ACB received a complaint from the complainant alleging therein that Abdul Majid Bhat, Patwari, Halqa Goom, Ahmadpora, Tehsil Pattan District Baramulla was demanding bribe of Rs 20,000 from complainant for preparing and providing of revenue extracts required by complainant.

“The complainant stated that some ten years back he had purchased 02 Kanals of land at Goom, Ahmadpora, Pattan but he could not prepare sale deed at that time therefore about six months back complainant approached the Patwari Halqa Goom Ahmadpora Abdul Majid Bhat for revenue extracts of land but patwari deliberately delayed matter on one pretext or other,” the statement said.

“Finally Patwari Ab. Majeed Bhat demanded Rs 10000 each for two separate extracts required for execution of sale deed by complainant in favour of his daughter and sister-in-law,” it said, adding that immediately upon receiving the complaint which prima facie discloses the commission of offence U/S 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, a case under FIR number 09/2022 U/sec 7 of PC Act 1988 was registered at P/S ACB Baramulla and investigations started.

“Subsequently, a trap team was constituted and accused patwari was caught red handed while demanding and accepting bribe from the complainant in presence of independent witnesses. The accused was arrested on spot, the bribe money was also recovered from his possession,” ACB said, adding that further investigations in the case are going on.