Srinagar, Sep 7, KDC: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Abdul Hamid Khan, an alleged land broker and tout, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe on behalf of Patwari Saleem Altaf of Halqa Batamaloo, Srinagar, for issuance of revenue extracts.
According to a statement issued by the ACB, the bureau received a written complaint alleging that Saleem Altaf, through his associate Abdul Hamid Khan, had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant for issuing revenue extracts pertaining to his house.
The complainant had applied online for the revenue extracts on behalf of his father for the purpose of attestation of mutation. The ACB said the Patwari, through Khan, initially demanded ₹20,000, which was later settled at ₹16,000.
The complainant further alleged that Khan had already compelled him to pay ₹5,000 as the first instalment on behalf of the Patwari, while a second instalment of ₹11,000 was demanded for issuance of the revenue extracts.
“During the trap proceedings, Ab. Hamid Khan was caught red handed while demanding and accepting ₹11,000 as illegal gratification on behalf of the Patwari, Saleem Altaf,” the ACB said in its statement.
Following verification of the allegations, the ACB registered FIR No. 13/2026 under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Police Station ACB Srinagar, and took up the investigation.
A trap team was subsequently constituted by ACB Srinagar, which apprehended Khan during the alleged transaction. He was taken into custody.
During his personal search, the ACB said, besides the trap amount of ₹11,000, cash amounting to ₹25,125, payment slips, the revenue extract in question and a sale deed pertaining to Mohammad Sidiq Sheikh, son of Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh, were recovered.
The bureau said the recovered items have been taken into possession as per procedure and are being examined as part of the investigation.
The involvement of Patwari Saleem Altaf in the alleged demand and acceptance of illegal gratification through Khan is being ascertained, the ACB said.
“The investigation of the case is going on,” the statement added. (KDC)
