The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday trapped and arrested Patwari Halqa Lukbhawn Larkipora, Tehsil Dooru, District Anantnag, for “demanding and accepting a bribe of 10,000”.
According to an official statement issued to news agency KINS, the ACB received a written complaint alleging that the complainant had submitted an application to the Tehsil Office, Dooru, requesting permission to cut/prune branches of a Chinar tree located near his residence.
The branches, due to strong winds, posed a serious threat to life and property.
“The Tehsil Office subsequently forwarded the application to Patwari Halqa Lukbhawn Larkipora for a field report. However, when the complainant approached the Patwari, he allegedly demanded a bribe of 10,000 in exchange for submitting a favourable report.Refusing to succumb to the illegal demand, the complainant approached the ACB and filed a formal complaint”.
“Following preliminary verification, which substantiated the bribery allegation, FIR No. 01/2025 was registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 at Police Station ACB Anantnag, and an investigation was launched”.
“A trap team was constituted, and in a successful operation, the Patwari was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe amount from the complainant. The tainted money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses.
Subsequently, a search operation was conducted at the residential premises of the accused Patwari in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses,” the ACB said.
The investigation in the case is ongoing, and further legal action is being taken in accordance with the law.(KINS)
