JAMMU, Dec 4: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday achieved a major success by arresting two revenue officials in Udhampur district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹10,000. The accused have been identified as Ganderab Singh, Patwari of Patwar Halqa Thalora in Majalta tehsil, and Kuldeep Kumar, a Chowkidar who was reportedly acting in connivance with him.
According to an ACB spokesperson, the bureau received a written complaint from an aggrieved applicant who alleged that the Patwari had demanded ₹10,000 in exchange for correcting his name in the revenue records. Taking cognizance of the serious allegation, the ACB initiated discreet verification to assess the genuineness of the complaint. The verification exercise independently confirmed that the bribe was indeed demanded.
Following this confirmation, a case was promptly registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, read with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, at the ACB Police Station in Udhampur. Subsequently, a trap team led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police was constituted to lay a well-coordinated operation.
The trap team moved swiftly and apprehended both the Patwari and the Chowkidar red-handed while accepting the bribe amount from the complainant. The entire operation was conducted in the presence of independent witnesses to ensure transparency and adherence to legal protocols. The marked money was recovered on the spot, leaving no scope for denial.
After completing the mandatory legal formalities, both accused officials were taken into custody. Searches were also conducted at the Patwari’s residential premises in Khoon, Majalta, under the supervision of an Executive Magistrate, during which relevant documents and other material were seized for examination.
An ACB official said the investigation is progressing, and further evidence is being gathered to establish the complete chain of events and identify any additional individuals who may be involved in the corruption racket.
The bureau reiterated its commitment to rooting out corruption from public offices and encouraged citizens to report any instances of bribery or misuse of authority.