Examiner News Desk | Anantnag:
The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday said it trapped and arrested a Ziladar and a Patwari of the Irrigation Division Anantnag for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in connection with a land-related complaint.
According to an ACB statement, the accused officials were identified as Nazir Ahmad Wani and Bilal Ahmad Wagay.
The ACB said it received a written complaint alleging that the two officials had demanded Rs 1 lakh for disposal of an application filed against the complainant regarding the alleged encroachment of government land at Ashajipora near Dabruna in Anantnag.
As per the complaint, the accused officials had initially sought an amount equivalent to the cost of one marla of land at the location, estimated at around Rs 4 lakh, to settle or reject the complaint at their level. The amount was later allegedly reduced to Rs 1 lakh following repeated requests by the complainant.
Instead of paying the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB.
During the verification process, the ACB found that the land in question was proprietary land belonging to the complainant and not state land. The alleged demand for bribe by the accused officials was also reportedly confirmed during verification.
Subsequently, the ACB registered FIR No. 05/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, at Police Station ACB Anantnag and initiated an investigation.
The agency said a trap team was constituted, which allegedly caught both officials red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount. The accused were arrested on the spot and the tainted money was recovered from their possession in the presence of independent witnesses.
The ACB also conducted searches at the residential premises of the accused officials in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
