Two Irrigation Officials Caught Red-Handed in Rs 1 Lakh Bribery Case in Anantnag | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday said it trapped and arrested a Ziladar and a Patwari of Irrigation Division Anantnag for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in connection with a land-related complaint.

According to an ACB statement, the accused officials were identified as Nazir Ahmad Wani, Ziladar and resident of Utrasoo Najigund Anantnag, and Bilal Ahmad Wagay, Patwari and resident of Sherpora Anantnag.

The ACB said it had received a written complaint alleging that the two officials were demanding Rs 1 lakh for disposal of an application filed against the complainant regarding the alleged encroachment of government land at Ashajipora near Dabruna in Anantnag.

As per the complaint, the accused officials had allegedly demanded an amount equivalent to the cost of one marla of land at the location, estimated at around Rs 4 lakh, to settle or reject the complaint at their level. The amount was later allegedly reduced to Rs 1 lakh following repeated requests by the complainant.

The complainant, however, approached the ACB instead of paying the bribe.

During verification, the ACB said it found that the land in question was proprietary land belonging to the complainant and not state land. The alleged demand for bribe by the accused officials was also confirmed during the verification process.

Following this, the ACB registered FIR No. 05/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, at Police Station ACB Anantnag and initiated an investigation.

The agency said a trap team was constituted, which allegedly caught both officials red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount. The accused were arrested on the spot and the money was recovered from their possession in the presence of independent witnesses.

Searches were also conducted at the residential premises of the accused officials in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses.

Further investigation into the case is underway.