Revenue officials caught red-handed in ₹15,000 bribery case in Kokernag

SRINAGAR, JANUARY 16: The Central Bureau of Investigation on Friday arrested two government officials in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district on charges of accepting a bribe, in a swift action underscoring the agency’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption in public offices.

According to officials, the arrests were made in the Halqa Soaf Shali area of Kokernag, where a Patwari of the Revenue Department and a Chowkidar, both public servants, were caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹15,000 from a complainant. The duo was allegedly demanding illegal gratification in connection with the demarcation of the complainant’s land.

The CBI said it registered the case on January 15, 2026, after receiving a complaint alleging that the Patwari had demanded a bribe of ₹30,000 for carrying out official land demarcation work. Acting promptly, the agency verified the complaint and laid a trap the same day.

During the trap operation, the Patwari, allegedly with the assistance of the Chowkidar acting as a middleman, accepted part of the demanded bribe amount. The CBI team apprehended both officials at the spot while the transaction was underway, recovering the bribe money and taking them into custody.

Officials said the arrested public servants have been booked under relevant provisions of law and further investigation is in progress to ascertain whether more officials were involved or similar acts of corruption were committed earlier.

The action has sent a strong message against corrupt practices at the grassroots level, particularly in revenue-related matters that directly affect citizens. Land demarcation and revenue records are often areas where complaints of bribery arise, and the CBI’s prompt intervention is being seen as a step towards reinforcing accountability and transparency in public service.