JAMMU: Despite tall claims of transparency and accountability, corruption is running rampant in revenue department. In yet, another successful trap case, the team of Anti Corruption Bureau, Jammu has arrested one Naib Tehsildar, Gharota who was demanding Rs 25 lakh from complainant for issuance of fard intekhab of land.
As per reports, ACB received a complaint against Ashok Sharma, Naib Tehsildar and his associates for demanding a bribe of Rs. 25 lakh for issuing fard. In his complaint, the complainant alleged that he had applied for issuance of fard in respect of land in the name of his wife measuring 1 kanal 19 marlas under khasra No. 440/299 situated at Mawa Karora, Sungal Morh, Akhnoor before then patwari Halqa Akhnoor Khas namely Ravinder Bhagat.
It was alleged that after filing the application, the patwari Ravinder Bhagat and Naib Tehsildar, Ashok Sharma who were at that time posted in the area, approached the complainant through their tout Raman Gupta and asked for a bribe of Rs. 30 lakh for the issuance of the fard.
Both of them contacted the complainant and on negotiation the amount was settled at ₹25 lakh. Thereafter, both Patwari and the Naib Tehsildar were transferred out of that place, but the amount of Rs. 25 lakh was still being demanded by Naib Tehsildar Ashok Sharma from the complainant.
It was also alleged that the fard was prepared as the complainant had received the soft copy through whatsapp from one Chiku Gupta, who was the buyer of his land, as the said soft copy of the fard was sent to Chiku Gupta by the tout Raman Gupta. The original copy of fard, which was stated to be retained by the Naib Tehsildar Ashok Sharma was not being provided to the complainant as the Naib Tehsildar Ashok Sharma was demanding the bribe money of Rs 25 lakhs.
The Naib Tehsildar agree to receive bribe amount of bribe in parts but the fard will only be handed over after getting the full amount of Rs. 25 lakh. The complainant had further alleged that he has been asked by the Naib Tehsildar to bring at least Rs 1.50 lakh as initial instalment of bribe.
Consequently, case FIR No. 06/2022 was registered at Police Station ACB Central against the accused persons U/s 7, Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 R/w PC (Amendment) Act, 2018 and sec 120-B IPC for investigation.
Further, a trap was constituted and as soon as the accused accepted the bribe amount of Rs 1.50 lakh from complainant inside Chilly Bar at Ploura, the ACB team swung into action and caught him red handed with bribe amount.
Immediately, accused Ashok Kumar, Naib Tehsildar, presently posted at Gharota was taken into custody. .
Searches were also conducted in the residential houses of all the accused persons and ₹9 lakh was seized from Raman Gupta R/o Akhnoor.