Srinagar, May 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday arrested two officials of the Irrigation Division Anantnag for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh in connection with a land-related complaint.
According to an official statement, the accused were identified as Nazir Ahmad Wani, a Ziladar, and Bilal Ahmad Wagay, a Patwari posted in Irrigation Division Anantnag.
The ACB said it received a written complaint alleging that the two officials were demanding ₹1 lakh for disposing of an application related to alleged encroachment of government land at Ashajipora near Dabruna in Anantnag.
📢 8,000+ readers already joined for instant Kashmir News Trust updates
During verification, the ACB found that the land in question was not state land but proprietary land belonging to the complainant. The verification also reportedly confirmed the bribery demand made by the accused officials.
Officials said the accused had initially demanded an amount equivalent to the value of one marla of land at the site, estimated at around ₹4 lakh, but later agreed to accept ₹1 lakh after repeated requests from the complainant.
Following the verification, the ACB registered FIR No. 05/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018) at Police Station ACB Anantnag and launched an investigation.
“A trap team was constituted which successfully caught both officials red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount,” the statement said, adding that the money was recovered from their possession in the presence of independent witnesses.
The ACB further stated that searches were also conducted at the residences of the accused officials in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses. Further investigation into the case is underway.
