Jammu, Feb 2, KDC: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against a Revenue Department official for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹17,000 in Udhampur district.
According to an official statement, the ACB received a written complaint alleging that Mohd Hanif, Patwari of Halqa Tikri, Udhampur, demanded illegal gratification despite the complainant having completed all required rules and formalities for construction of a residential house.
The complainant alleged that the accused Patwari initially demanded ₹30,000 as bribe and later reduced the demand to ₹17,000 in return for allowing the construction work. It was further alleged that the official threatened the complainant that he would not permit laying of the roof slab (lanter) unless the bribe amount was paid.
Stating that he was unwilling to pay the bribe and opposed to corruption, the complainant approached the Anti Corruption Bureau, Jammu, seeking legal action against the accused public servant.
Upon receipt of the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification, which confirmed the demand of bribe by the accused official. Subsequently, a case FIR No. 01/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was registered at Police Station ACB Central, Jammu, and investigation was taken up.
During the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted and a trap was laid. The accused Patwari allegedly demanded and accepted a bribe amount of ₹17,000 from the complainant in the presence of witnesses. The bribe money was later recovered from the office of the accused.
However, officials said that the accused Patwari managed to flee from the spot during the operation. Searches are being conducted to trace him, and further investigation in the case is underway.
