ACB Catches Patwari Red-Handed for Accepting Bribe in Kathua

Kathua, February 13: In a significant crackdown on corruption, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a Patwari red-handed while accepting a bribe in Kathua district. The accused, Sudershan Khajuria, posted as Patwari of Khanpur Halqa in Tehsil Marheen, was caught taking an illegal gratification of Rs 15,000 in exchange for manipulating revenue records.

According to an ACB official, the case unfolded after a local complainant approached the bureau, alleging that Khajuria had demanded Rs 30,000 to make corrections in official land records. Following negotiations, the bribe amount was settled at Rs 15,000, of which Rs 5,000 had already been paid by the complainant under duress.

Unwilling to give in further to corruption, the aggrieved party lodged a formal complaint with the ACB, prompting an immediate verification and a discreet inquiry. Once the allegations were substantiated, the bureau devised a well-planned trap, leading to Patwari’s arrest while accepting the remaining Rs 15,000 in the presence of independent witnesses.

Following the arrest, the ACB team conducted searches at the accused’s residence and office, with the involvement of a magistrate and independent observers to ensure transparency in the proceedings.

A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been formally registered against the accused revenue official, and further investigation is underway to unearth any additional irregularities.

This operation underscores the ACB’s commitment to eradicating corruption from public offices, ensuring that citizens receive fair and transparent governance without the menace of bribery and malpractice.