The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday caught Tehsildar of Qaziabad Kralgund in Handwara, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a complainant in exchange for granting permission to cut walnut trees.
The action followed a complaint by a Handwara resident who alleged that Tehsildar Ghulam Rasool Bhat demanded Rs 1 lakh as a bribe for cutting of walnut trees.
The complainant, citing poverty, paid Rs 50,000 in advance but was asked to pay the remaining amount before receiving the permissions.
After discreet verification confirming the allegations, the ACB registered FIR No. 04/2025 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) at Police Station ACB Baramulla, ACB said in a statement.
A trap was laid, leading to the arrest of Bhat and his tout, Rafi Ahmad Lone of Pathora Kralgund, from Bhat’s private residence.
In addition to the Ra 50,000 bribe money, the ACB also recovered Rs 79,000 in cash from the premises.
Both accused have been remanded to seven-day police custody by the Special Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla.
Notably, Bhat was also booked by ACB in 2021 in a case related to illegal land mutations. Further investigations are underway to determine the involvement of other officials.
