Handwara,Jun,21:In a decisive action against corruption in government offices, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu and Kashmir today trapped and arrested Ghulam Rasool Bhat, Tehsildar Qaziabad Kralgund, Handwara, while demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹50,000 from a complainant in Handwara.
A complaint was earlier lodged by a local resident, alleging that the Tehsildar was demanding a bribe of ₹1,00,000 for providing permissions for cutting walnut trees. The complainant, citing financial hardship, had already paid ₹50,000 in advance under pressure, but the accused continued to demand the remaining ₹50,000 before processing the permissions.
Upon discreet verification, the allegations were found to be genuine, and a formal case FIR No. 04/2025 U/S 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) was registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla.
A trap team of ACB subsequently caught the accused Tehsildar and his tout, Rafi Ahmad Lone S/o Abdul Khaliq Lone R/o Pathora Kralgund Kupwara, red-handed while accepting the bribe at a private residence in Handwara. Both individuals were immediately arrested on the spot.
During the search, apart from the bribe money, additional cash amounting to ₹79,000 was recovered and seized by the ACB team. Further searches are underway at the residential and official premises of the accused Tehsildar.
The accused were presented before the Hon’ble Additional Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla, who remanded them to seven days of police custody.
It is noteworthy that in 2021, ACB had registered another case against the same Tehsildar for illegal land mutations. Several other verifications regarding allegations of corruption against him are also ongoing.
Further investigations are in progress and the role of other officials is being actively examined.
Comment List