Srinagar, Apr 16 : Anti Corruption Bureau, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday said to trapped and arrested a Lumberdar in Kantbagh Baramulla for demanding and accepting bribes. The Bureau in the meantime said to also have booked a Patwari in Halqa Khawaja Bagh in the district.
“Anti Corruption Bureau received a complaint from a resident of Baramulla against Manzoor Ahmad, Lumbardar Kunthbagh, Baramulla and Patwari Halqa Khawaja Bagh, Baramulla alleging therein the demand of bribe of ₹4000 for handing over two NOCs of building permissions,” reads the statement issued to GNS.
“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 report. He further alleged that when he went to Patwari of village Kunthbagh for NOC and revenue report, concerned patwari kept delaying and finally he received phone call from Manzoor Ahmad, Lambardar who told him that both the NOCs and Patwari reports of Building permissions are lying with him and he asked complainant to pay him bribe of ₹5000 which he finally agreed for ₹4000. He asked him to take the report from him as patwari halqa has kept the NOC/revenue reports with him,” the statement reads.
“Under these circumstances the complainant approached the Anti Corruption Bureau with his complaint against aforesaid officials and requested for legal action against the concerned for demanding bribe from him for issuance of revenue Dept NOCs.”
“As the contents of complaint prima facie disclose the commission of offence punishable under section 7 of the P.C Act 1988 (r/w its amendment Act 2018) and Section 120-B IPC by accused namely Manzoor Ahmad, Lumbardar, Kunthbagh, Baramulla and Patwari Halqa Khawaja Bagh Baramulla, accordingly, a Case FIR No. 04/2024 under section 7 of the P.C Act 1988 (r/w its amendment Act 2018) and 120-B IPC was registered at Police Station, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Baramulla and investigations was taken up,” reads the statement.
“During the course of investigations, a trap team was constituted which caught accused Lambardar red handed inside the Tehsil office Baramulla premises while demanding and accepting bribe of ₹4000 from complainant. The revenue NOCs of the complainant and his father prepared by patwari concerned and issued by tehsil office were also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses along with bribe money. The accused Manzoor Ahmad, Lambardar, village Kunthbagh, Baramulla and 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 bribe from general public,” reads the statement adding, “further investigation in the case is going on.” (GNS)