Srinagar, Oct 31: The Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Jammu, Haq Nawaz Zargar, on Thursday convicted former Naib Tehsildar Faryad Ahmed and then Patwari Yadav Chander, sentencing both to four years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine in a 2019 bribery case involving ₹90,000.
The case stemmed from an April 16, 2019 complaint filed by Javed Ashraf, who alleged that the two revenue officials demanded ₹90,000 for issuing a Fard Intikhab of two marlas of land at Jhajjar Kotli along the National Highway. Acting on the complaint, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered FIR No. 11/2019 under the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B RPC.
A trap team led by DySP Abdul Wahid Giri caught both officials red-handed after they accepted the bribe. The tainted cash was recovered from Naib Tehsildar Ahmed’s office drawer, and chemical tests confirmed the presence of phenolphthalein powder on his hands.
During the trial, APP M.A. Almansoor produced 15 witnesses whose statements corroborated the prosecution’s case. Despite denying the charges, the accused were found guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
The court sentenced both to four years of rigorous imprisonment under Sections 5(1)(d) r/w 5(2), 4-A of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B RPC. The judge emphasized that corruption in revenue matters erodes public trust and warranted strong deterrent punishment to uphold institutional integrity.
