ACB Arrests Two Patwaris in Separate Bribery Cases in Jammu and Doda
JAMMU, July 25: In a strong crackdown on corruption within the revenue department, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir arrested two Patwaris in separate incidents in Jammu and Doda districts for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes from citizens seeking official services.
In the first case, Chuni Lal, serving as Patwari in Patwar Halqa Dansal in Jammu district, was apprehended red-handed by ACB sleuths while accepting a bribe amounting to ₹20,000. According to ACB officials, the revenue official had initially demanded ₹1 lakh from a complainant in exchange for providing a demarcation report for a land parcel. After negotiations, the bribe amount was reduced to ₹75,000, with ₹25,000 set as the first installment.
However, the complainant, unwilling to be extorted, approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau with a formal complaint. After verifying the facts of the case, the ACB registered FIR No. 15/2025 at its Jammu Police Station. A trap was subsequently laid and Chuni Lal was caught in the act of accepting ₹20,000 in the presence of independent witnesses. Searches were also carried out at his office and at his in-laws’ residence for further evidence.
In a separate case from Doda district, the ACB arrested Ashok Kumar, Patwari of Patwar Halqa Batote, for allegedly demanding ₹50,000 from a complainant in lieu of registering a virasati intiqal (inheritance mutation) for ancestral land. The complainant had reportedly been pressurized by the revenue official for the bribe and decided to alert the ACB. Upon verifying the complaint, a formal FIR (No. 04/2025) was registered at ACB Police Station Doda.
A trap team was swiftly deployed, and Ashok Kumar was arrested while accepting ₹40,000 from the complainant. The bribe amount was recovered on the spot in the presence of independent witnesses, and the accused was taken into custody.
Both cases highlight the ongoing efforts of the Anti-Corruption Bureau to uproot corrupt practices within government departments and ensure transparency and accountability in public service delivery. Investigations in both cases are currently underway to ascertain further details and identify any additional involvement. The ACB has reiterated its commitment to acting decisively against corruption and urged citizens to report any such incidents promptly.
