Srinagar, Sept 07 : The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday arrested a land broker for allegedly accepting Rs 11,000 bribe on behalf of a Patwari for issuance of revenue extracts in the Batmaloo area of Srinagar.In a statement issued to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a spokesperson said the ACB received a written complaint alleging that Saleem Altaf, Patwari, Halqa Batmaloo, Srinagar, through his associate Ab. Hamid Khan, a land broker/tout, had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant for issuance of revenue extracts pertaining to his house.He said the complainant had applied online for the revenue extracts on behalf of his father for the purpose of attestation of mutation. It was alleged that the Patwari, through his associate Ab. Hamid Khan, initially demanded Rs 20,000, which was subsequently settled at Rs 16,000.The spokesperson said the complainant further alleged that the said tout had already compelled him to pay the first instalment of Rs 5,000 on behalf of the accused Patwari, while a second instalment of Rs 11,000 was demanded today on behalf of the accused Patwari for issuance of the revenue extracts.“On receipt of the complaint, the allegations were verified and accordingly FIR No. 13/2026 under Section 7, 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 61(2) BNS was registered at P/S ACB Srinagar, and investigation taken up.”The spokesperson said that during the course of investigation, a trap team was constituted by ACB Srinagar. During the trap proceedings, Ab. Hamid Khan was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 11,000 as illegal gratification on behalf of Patwari Saleem Altaf.The accused tout was taken into custody. During his personal search, in addition to the trap amount of Rs 11,000, cash amounting to Rs 25,125, payment slips, the revenue extract in question and a sale deed pertaining to Mohammad Sidiq Sheikh, son of Gh. Mohammad Sheikh, were recovered from his possession.The recovered articles have been taken into possession as per procedure and are being examined as part of the investigation.The involvement of Patwari Saleem Altaf in the demand and acceptance of illegal gratification through the tout Ab. Hamid Khan is being ascertained. The investigation in the case is underway.—(KNO)
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