SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau received a written complaint from a Machhedi resident in District Kathua, alleging that Gulshan Singh, a Patwari in Halqa Machhedi, Kathua, demanded a bribe of Rs 5000 for issuing Virsati Intqal mutations and a legal heir certificate.
The complainant applied through the online portal of the revenue department and met with the Patwari to request the documents. Initially, the Patwari received an advance payment of Rs 2000 and then demanded an additional Rs 3000 from the complainant for completing the issuance process.
“Based on the preliminary findings indicating an offence punishable under Section 7 of the PC Act 1988, the Anti-Corruption Bureau registered Case FIR No. 02/2023 at Police Station ACB Central and initiated an investigation. A trap team was formed during the investigation, which successfully caught the accused Patwari red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount of Rs 3000 in the presence of independent witnesses. Following the completion of all legal formalities, he was arrested on the spot,” reads a statement.
After the arrest, searches were conducted at the accused Patwari’s residential house. The investigation into the case is ongoing.
