Srinagar, May 21: The Jammu & Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday trapped and arrested two officials of the Irrigation Division Anantnag for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in connection with the disposal of a land-related complaint in Anantnag district.
According to an official statement issued to The Nation Observer (TNO), the arrested officials have been identified as Nazir Ahmad Wani, Ziladar, resident of Utrasoo Najigund Anantnag, and Bilal Ahmad Wagay, Patwari, resident of Sherpora Anantnag.
The ACB said it received a written complaint alleging that the duo was demanding Rs 1 lakh from the complainant for resolving an application related to the alleged encroachment of government land at Ashajipora near Dabruna in Anantnag.
During verification, officials found that the land in question was not state land but proprietary land belonging to the complainant. The allegations of bribery were also found to be genuine.
Following the verification, the ACB registered FIR No. 05/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended in 2018) at Police Station ACB Anantnag and initiated an investigation.
A trap team was subsequently constituted, which successfully caught both officials red-handed while allegedly accepting the bribe amount of Rs 1 lakh. The accused were arrested on the spot, and the bribe money was recovered in the presence of independent witnesses.
The ACB further stated that searches were conducted at the residential premises of both accused officials in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
