Patwari Caught Red-Handed Taking Bribe in Ramban
Srinagar, KNT: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a revenue official red-handed while accepting a bribe in Ramban district. The accused, Muzamil Salam, serving as Patwari of Patwar Halqa Pogal Paristan, was caught by an ACB trap team while taking Rs 2500 from a complainant in exchange for making a minor correction in revenue records.
According to the complaint, the bribe was demanded for correcting the name of the complainant’s father in official land records maintained by the Tehsil Office Ukhral. Initially, Patwari Muzamil Salam allegedly demanded Rs 20,000 to carry out the correction. After negotiations, the amount was brought down to Rs 2500.
Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau, seeking action against the public servant. Following a discreet verification process which confirmed the bribery demand, the ACB registered FIR No. 03/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), at Police Station ACB Doda.
Subsequently, a trap team led by a Gazetted Rank Officer was constituted. In a meticulously executed operation, the Patwari Muzamil Salam, son of Salam Ud Din Shah, a resident of Kaskoot in Tehsil Banihal, was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount from the complainant. The entire operation was carried out in the presence of independent witnesses.
The accused was arrested on the spot following due legal procedures, and the bribe money was recovered from his possession in the presence of witnesses.
ACB officials confirmed that further investigation into the case is underway. [KNT]
