Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Oct 17: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today trapped and arrested a Patwari in Kupwara district for demanding a bribe of Rs 30,000.
A statement issued by the ACB said that information was received by the Bureau from one complainant resident of Kupwara regarding demand of a bribe by Hashim Amin Malik, Patwari Halqa Bohipora Kupwara.
Malik alleged that while he was constructing some shops in his private land the Patwari concerned with other revenue officials came to the site and took away his material, equipments etc with them.
He further alleged that he accordingly approached Tehsildar concerned who directed him to meet NT and Patwari. He further stated that when the complainant met Patwari, he demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 from him and told him that he will be given seized items back and will be allowed to work also if he pays the bribe money. On this complainant pleaded that he cannot pay huge bribe and it was later on negotiated for Rs 30,000.
“As the complainant was not interested in paying bribe under these circumstances, he approached ACB and filed a written complaint against Patwari for demanding bribe and requested for legal action,” the statement adds.
“On the basis of the findings and recommendation of the Verifying Officer as Prima facie offences U/s 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 were made out against accused for demanding bribe from complainant for allowing him to construct shops on his private land and release of his equipment/material seized. Accordingly a case FIR No. 11/2023 was registered in Police Station ACB Baramulla U/s 7 of the PC Act 1988 and the investigation was initiated,” the ACB said in the statement.
The ACB said that during the course of investigations the accused 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 of Mughal Pora (Ex-Lumberdar), who is evading arrest. “Searches are also conducted in the residential house of the accused Patwari,” the statement said.
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