SRINAGAR: The anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday arrested a revenue official for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 to facilitate the construction of shops and the release of material and equipment seized by revenue authorities.
A statement issued by ACB reads, “Information was received by Anti Corruption Bureau through ACB J&K Helpline number 9419678060 from one complainant resident of Kupwara regarding demand of bribe by one Patwari Halqa Bohipora Kupwara.”
The statement reads that the complainant alleged that while constructing some shops, the patwari concerned with other revenue officials came to the site and took away the material and other construction equipment’s with them.
He further alleged that he accordingly approached the tehsildar concerned who directed him to meet Naib Tehsildar and the patwari concerned.
“When i met Patwari Hashim Amin Malik he demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 to return back the seized item. After negotiations the deal was deal was settled for Rs 30,000.”
It added that under these circumstances the complainant approached ACB, stating that he doesn’t want to pay a bribe, and requested for legal action against the Patwari concerned.
Accordingly on receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted by the ACB. “The verification conducted revealed that the revenue team including patwari Hashim Amin Malik took away the equipments, construction material from the complainant and the patwari concerned demanded bribe from complainant.”
Accordingly, a case under FIR number 11/2023 was registered in Police Station ACB Baramulla under section 7 of the PC Act 1988 and the investigation was initiated.
“During the course of investigations the accused patwari was arrested on spot while demanding bribe of Rs 30,000 from complainant and accepting same through his tout and his close accomplice Bashir Ahmad Mir R/o Mughal Pora (Ex-Lumberdar), who is evading arrest. Searches are also conducted in the residential house of the accused patwari,” the statement said, adding that further investigations of the case are going on—(KNO)
