Patwari Sentenced in Bribery Case; ACB Files Chargesheet in Separate Mutation Fraud Case

Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday said that a Patwari has been convicted in a bribery trap case by the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar, while a chargesheet has also been filed against another Patwari in a separate corruption case in Udhampur.

In a statement, the ACB said that the Special Judge Anti-Corruption Court Srinagar, Dr. Tasleem Arief Ganie, convicted Bashir Ahmad Dar, son of Abdul Wahab Dar, a resident of Arreh Mohanpora Kulgam, in a bribery case registered under FIR No. 03/2012 of Police Station Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (now ACB).

The statement said the accused, who was then serving as Girdawar, was found guilty under Sections 5(2) read with 5(1)(d) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 161 RPC for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹1,000 from a complainant in exchange for providing Intikhabs of land measuring 36 kanals and 12 marlas.

“Following a complaint filed on February 9, 2012, a trap was laid by the Vigilance Organisation Kashmir during which the accused was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe,” the statement said.

It added that after completion of investigation, a chargesheet was filed before the court on February 2, 2013. The court delivered its judgment on March 16, 2026, sentencing the accused to two years of simple imprisonment along with a fine of ₹10,000 under Section 5(2) read with 5(1)(d) of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act.

“In addition, the court awarded one year of simple imprisonment and a fine of ₹5,000 for offences punishable under Section 161 RPC,” the statement said, adding that the conviction reflects the ACB’s continued efforts to ensure accountability and curb corruption in public offices.

The statement further said that in another case, the Anti-Corruption Bureau Udhampur-Reasi has produced a chargesheet in FIR No. 33/2017 of Police Station VOJ (now ACB) before the Court of Special Judge Anti-Corruption Udhampur against accused Mohammad Saleem Banday, the then Patwari Halqa Mand Tikri, Udhampur, presently serving as Girdawar Halqa Judda in Tehsil Arnas of Reasi district.

It said the accused was found involved in illegally entering and attesting Mutation No. 2338 dated August 9, 2006 under Section 6 of the J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976 with respect to land measuring one kanal under Khasra No. 871 Min in favour of certain beneficiaries.

“The case was registered on the basis of a verification conducted by the Vigilance Organisation into allegations that ownership rights were conferred to the beneficiaries out of way through attestation of mutation under Section 6 of the J&K Agrarian Reforms Act, 1976,” the statement said.

It added that the provision was not applicable in the case as Section 6 of the Act applies only to dwelling houses occupied by a tiller, whereas the land in question pertained to shops.

“The public servants, along with the beneficiaries, abused their official position for ulterior motives and conferred undue benefits by violating the laid down rules while entering the attestation of the said mutation,” the statement said.

The statement further said that the accused Mohammad Saleem Banday has recently been arrested in another trap case registered as FIR No. 04/2026 at Police Station ACB Udhampur-Reasi, Jammu, and is currently lodged in judicial custody. Another case (FIR No. 06/2013) is also registered against him at the same police station and is under investigation, it added.