SRINAGAR: Anti-Corruption Bureau received a written complaint alleging that Saleem Altaf, Patwari, Halqa Batamaloo, Srinagar, through his associate Ab. Hamid Khan, a land broker/tout, had demanded illegal gratification from the complainant for issuance of revenue extracts pertaining to his house.

The complainant had applied online for the revenue extracts on behalf of his father for the purpose of attestation of mutation. It was alleged that the Patwari, through his associate Ab. Hamid Khan, initially demanded ₹20,000, which was subsequently settled at ₹16,000.

The complainant further alleged that the said tout had already compelled him to pay the first instalment of ₹5,000 on behalf of the  accused patwari, while a second instalment of Rs 11,000 was demanded (on behalf of the accused patwari) today for issuance of the revenue extracts

On receipt of the complaint, the allegations were verified and accordingly FIR No. 13/2026 under Section 7,7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 61(2) BNS was registered at P/S ACB Srinagar, and investigation taken up. During the course of investigation,a trap team was constituted by ACB Srinagar. During the trap proceedings, Ab. Hamid Khan was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting ₹11,000 as illegal gratification on behalf of the Patwari, Saleem Altaf.

The accused tout was taken into custody. During his personal search, in addition to the trap amount of ₹11,000, cash amounting to ₹25,125, payment slips, the revenue extract in question, and a sale deed pertaining to Mohammad Sidiq Sheikh S/o Gh. Mohammad Sheikh were recovered from his possession. The recovered articles have been taken into possession as per procedure and are being examined as part of the investigation.

The involvement of Patwari Saleem Altaf in the demand and acceptance of illegal gratification through the tout Ab. Hamid Khan is being ascertained. The investigation of case is going on.

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