Rajouri, June 13, KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday caught a revenue official red-handed while accepting a bribe in Rajouri district. The accused, Muhammad Jameel, a Patwari, was arrested on the spot after he allegedly demanded and received Rs 5,000 from a citizen in exchange for providing attested copies of revenue records.
According to an official statement, the complainant had applied online on April 26, 2025, to obtain Khasra Girdawari records of his land in Village Dhara, but the concerned Patwari allegedly refused to process the request without a bribe.
Refusing to succumb to the demand, the complainant approached the ACB and lodged a formal complaint. Following this, the Bureau conducted a discreet verification, which confirmed the bribe demand by the Patwari. Acting swiftly, ACB registered FIR No. 02/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 at Police Station ACB Rajouri.
A trap was meticulously laid by the ACB team with the assistance of independent witnesses. During the operation, the accused was caught red-handed while taking Rs 5,000 from the complainant. He was immediately arrested after the recovery of the bribe money, following all legal formalities.
Following the arrest, a search was conducted at the residence of the accused in Poonch, and relevant documents and items were seized. ACB officials stated that further investigation is underway to ascertain whether the accused was involved in similar acts of corruption in the past.
The ACB has appreciated the courage of the complainant, who chose to report the matter rather than give in to corrupt practices. Officials urged more citizens to come forward and support the drive against corruption. [KNT]
