Srinagar, May 22 : Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday arrested two government employees from Anantnag red-handed for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe, officials said.
The ACB received a complaint that a Ziladar and a Patwari posted in the Anantnag Irrigation Division had demanded Rs 1,00,000 from a complainant in connection with an application alleging encroachment of government land at Ashajipora near Dabruna. The officials — identified as Ziladar Nazir Ahmad Wani and Patwari Bilal Ahmad Wagay, both residents of Anantnag — reportedly told the complainant they could settle or reject the application for a payment equivalent to the cost of one marla at the site, estimated at about Rs 4 lakh.
The complainant declined to pay and approached the ACB. A discreet verification confirmed the land belonged to the complainant and corroborated the bribery claim. A case was registered at ACB Anantnag and an investigation began.
During the probe, ACB officers laid a trap and caught the two employees red-handed while demanding and accepting the Rs 1 lakh bribe. The accused were arrested on the spot and the money was recovered in the presence of independent witnesses. Searches of the accused’s residences were later conducted in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses.
Further investigation into the matter is ongoing, the ACB said.
