Examiner Bureau | Srinagar:
The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a land broker for allegedly acting as a tout for a Patwari after he was caught accepting Rs 11,000 in bribe in connection with the issuance of revenue extracts in the Batmaloo area of Srinagar.
According to the ACB, it received a complaint alleging that Saleem Altaf, Patwari of Halqa Batmaloo, through his associate Ab Hamid Khan, had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant for issuing revenue extracts pertaining to his house.
The complainant had applied online for the revenue extracts on behalf of his father for the attestation of mutation, the bureau said.
The initial bribe demand was allegedly Rs 20,000, which was later settled at Rs 16,000. The complainant told the ACB that he had already paid Rs 5,000 as the first instalment on behalf of the Patwari, while Khan allegedly demanded the remaining Rs 11,000 for issuing the documents.
After verifying the allegations, the ACB registered FIR No. 13/2026 under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, at Police Station ACB Srinagar.
A trap team was subsequently constituted to verify the allegations and catch the accused. During the operation, Khan was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 11,000 on behalf of the Patwari, the ACB said.
Khan was taken into custody, and a personal search allegedly led to the recovery of the trap amount of Rs 11,000, along with Rs 25,125 in cash, payment slips, the revenue extract in question and a sale deed pertaining to Mohammad Sidiq Sheikh, son of Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh.
The recovered material has been seized in accordance with the prescribed procedure and is being examined as part of the ongoing investigation, the ACB said.
The bureau is also investigating the alleged involvement of Patwari Saleem Altaf in the demand and acceptance of the bribe through Khan.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
