kashmir:The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday trapped and arrested a Lumberdar for demanding and accepting Rs 4,000 bribe giving two Non-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for building permissions.
Quoting official statement, news agency KNO reported that a complainant alleged that he along with his father applied for building permission at Municipal Council Baramulla with two separate applications which were forwarded by MC Baramulla to different departments for issuance of NOCs and a report.
As per report, ACB trapped and arrested Manzoor Ahmad, Lambardar, village Kunthbagh, Baramulla for demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 4000 and also registered case against Patwari, Halqa Khawaja Bagh, Baramulla.
The ACB official said, “Anti Corruption Bureau received a complaint from a resident of Baramulla against Manzoor Ahmad, Lumbardar Kunthbagh, Baramulla and Patwari Halqa Khawaja Bagh, Baramulla alleging therein the demand of bribe of Rs 4000 for handing over two NOCs of building permissions.”
“The complainant in his complaint alleged that he alongwith his father had applied for issuance of building permission in favour of them before MC Baramulla with two separate applications which were forwarded by MC Baramulla to different departments for issuance of NOCs and report. He further alleged that when he went to Patwari of village Kunthbagh for NOC and revenue report, concerned Patwari kept delaying and finally he received phone call from Manzoor Ahmad, Lambardar who told him that both the NOCs and Patwari reports of Building permissions are lying with him and he asked complainant to pay him bribe of ?5000 which he finally agreed for Rs 4000. He asked him to take the report from him as Patwari Halqa has kept the NOC/revenue reports with him” official said.
Under these circumstances, official added, the complainant approached Anti Corruption Bureau with his complaint against aforesaid officials and requested for legal action against concerned for demanding bribe from him for issuance of revenue Dept NOCs.
As the contents of complaint prima facie disclose the commission of offence punishable under section 7 of the P.C Act 1988 (r/w its amendment Act 2018) and Section 120-B IPC by accused namely Manzoor Ahmad, Lumbardar, Kunthbagh, Baramulla and Patwari Halqa Khawaja Bagh Baramulla, accordingly, a Case FIR No. 04/2024 under section 7 of the P.C Act 1988 (r/w its amendment Act 2018) and 120-B IPC was registered at Police Station, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Baramulla and investigations was taken up, official said.
During the course of investigations, official said, a trap team was constituted which caught accused Lambardar red handed inside the Tehsil office Baramulla premises while demanding and accepting bribe of Rs 4000 from complainant. The revenue NOCs of the complainant and his father prepared by Patwari concerned and issued by tehsil office were also recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses along with bribe money.
The accused Manzoor Ahmad, Lambardar, village Kunthbagh, Baramulla and resident of Gutiyar, Baramulla was immediately taken into custody after completing all legal formalities, official said adding that searches were also conducted at the residence of the accused person.
The role of Patwari concerned and other public servants of tehsil office Baramulla is also being investigated who were using accused Lambardar as tout to receive bribe from general public, official said adding that further investigation in the case is going on.