Srinagar, Sept 7 (NVI): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday arrested a land broker for allegedly accepting Rs 11,000 bribe on behalf of a Patwari for issuance of revenue extracts in Batmaloo area here, officials said.
The accused, identified as Ab Hamid Khan, was allegedly acting as an intermediary for Saleem Altaf, Patwari of Halqa Batmaloo, the officials said.
The ACB had received a complaint alleging that the Patwari, through Khan, had demanded Rs 20,000 from the complainant for issuance of revenue extracts pertaining to his house. The amount was later settled at Rs 16,000, they said.
The complainant had applied online for the revenue extracts on behalf of his father for attestation of mutation, according to the ACB.
The complainant had already paid Rs 5,000 as the first instalment and was asked to pay the remaining Rs 11,000 on Monday, officials said.
Following verification of the allegations, the ACB registered a case under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and constituted a trap team.
During the trap operation, Khan was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 11,000 as illegal gratification on behalf of the Patwari, they said.
The accused was taken into custody and Rs 25,125 in cash, payment slips, the revenue extract in question and a sale deed were also recovered from his possession, officials said.
The recovered items have been seized as per procedure and are being examined as part of the investigation.
The ACB is also ascertaining the alleged involvement of the Patwari in the demand and acceptance of the bribe through the land broker.
Further investigation is underway.—(NVI)
