Srinagar, May 21 (JKNS): The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday trapped and arrested two officials of Irrigation Division Anantnag for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹1 lakh from a complainant in exchange for settling a complaint related to an alleged land encroachment case.
As per news agency JKNS, ACB received a written complaint from the complainant stating therein that Ziladar namely Nazir Ahmad Wani S/o Mohd Akbar Wani R/o Utrasoo Najigund Anantnag and Patwari namely Bilal Ahmad Wagay S/o Abdul Rehman Wagay R/o Sherpora Anantnag posted in Irrigation Division Anantnag are demanding a bribe of ₹1,00,000 from him for disposal of an application/complaint which has been filed against him regarding the alleged encroachment of Govt. land at Ashajipora near Dabruna Anantnag.
Accused officials told him that they would settle or reject the application/complaint at their level if he pays a bribe equal to cost of one Marla of land at that location which is ₹4 Lakh approx. On his repeated requests the bribe money was finally settled for ₹1 Lakh, it reads.
The complainant chose not to pay bribe and instead approached Anti Corruption Bureau for taking legal action against the said officials as envisaged under law, it reads.
On receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted. During verification it was found that the land in question was not state land but is proprietary land of the complainant and the demand of bribe by accused public servants was also confirmed, accordingly Case FIR No. 05/2026 u/s 7 of P/C Act 1988 read with amendment Act-2018 was registered in PS ACB Anantnag and investigation was taken up, it reads.
Statement reads that, During the course of investigation a trap team was constituted. The team laid a successful trap and caught the said Govt. employees red handed while demanding and accepting bribe. They were arrested on spot and bribe amount was also recovered from their possession in presence of independent witnesses associated with the trap team.
Subsequently, search of residential houses of the accused Govt. employees was carried out in presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses, it reads.
Further investigation of the instant case is going on, reads the statement. (JKNS)
