SRINAGAR: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday said that it trapped and arrested a Patwari from Halqa Zalora, Tehsil Bommai in Baramulla for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5000 from the complainant for preparation and issuance of revenue extract.
In a statement, a spokesman said that a complaint was received by the ACB against Tariq Ahmad, Patwari, Halqa Zalora, Tehsil Bommai, District Baramulla.
“As complainant was not interested in payment of bribe, he approached Anti corruption Bureau with written application and requested for taking legal action against concerned patwari for demanding bribe,” it said.
“He recently applied many times through online & offline mode for issuance of revenue extracts to Patwari concerned but nothing was done by Patwari Halqa Zalora despite his repeated requests,” the statement said, adding, “When he was given one revenue extract he was made to pay Rs 1000 to one of the employee’s bank account on pretext of fee for issuance of revenue extract. He later found that the document given is not complete and doesn’t contain full information.”
Adding further it said, ” He again applied fresh for issuance of required documents through online mode as the earlier document/information given was not complete concerned Patwari Tariq Ahmad again started delaying on one pretext or other. He agreed to provide document on intervention of one local person who accompanied complainant to patwari office but demanded bribe of Rs 5000 for doing so.”
The complainant was made to suffer a lot by concerned Patwari who didn’t furnish the exact documents, which he needed for pursuing his case before authorities. The Patwari has asked him to come to office on 12-8-2023 along with the one local person whom Patwari also knew, with bribe money of Rs 5000 to get revenue documents, the statement said.
“As the contents of complaint prima facie disclosed the commission of offence punishable U/S 7 of the PC Act 1988 by accused public servant namely Tariq Ahmad, Patwari, Halqa Zalora, Tehsil Bommai, District Baramulla, accordingly a case under FIR number 08/2023 is registered at Police Station Anti Corruption Bureau, Baramulla and the investigation started,” the statement said.
“During the course of investigations the accused Patwari was caught red handed while demanding and accepting bribe from complainant and the bribe amount was also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses. The accused patwari has been arrested on spot and further investigations are going on,” it added—(KNO)
