Srinagar: Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a revenue official for demanding and accepting bribes for issuing NOC’s in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Tuesday.
An ACB statement said it received a complaint from a resident of Baramulla against Manzoor Ahmad, Lumbardar Kunthbagh and Patwari Halqa Khawaja Bagh, alleging therein the demand of bribe of Rs 4000 for handing over two NOCs of building permissions.
The complainant in his complaint alleged that he alongwith his father had applied for issuance of building permission in favour of them before MC Baramulla with two separate applications which were forwarded by MC Baramulla to different departments for issuance of NOCs and reports.
He further alleged that when he went to the Patwari of village Kunthbagh for NOC and revenue report, the official kept delaying and finally he received a phone call from Ahmad, who told him that both the NOCs and Patwari reports of building permissions were lying with him and he asked complainant to pay him a bribe of Rs 5000 which he finally agreed for Rs 4000. He asked him to take the report from him as Patwari Halqa has kept the NOC/revenue reports with him.
Under these circumstances the complainant approached ACB with his complaint against the officials and requested legal action.
An FIR has been registered under section 7 of the P.C Act 1988 and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) IPC was registered at police station, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Baramulla and investigation was taken up.
During investigation, a trap team was constituted which caught accused Lambardar red-handed inside the Tehsil office Baramulla premises while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 4000 from the complainant.
The revenue NOCs of the complainant and his father prepared by the Patwari concerned and issued by the tehsil office were also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses along with bribe money.
The accused Lambardar, a resident of Gutiyar, Baramulla, was immediately taken into custody after completing all legal formalities.
Searches were also conducted at the residence of the accused person.
The role of Patwari concerned and other public servants of tehsil office Baramulla is also being investigated who were using accused Lambardar as tout to receive a bribe from the general public, the statement reads.
Further investigation into the case are going on.