In a decisive strike against corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a revenue patwari in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ganderbal district while he was accepting a bribe. The incident, which unfolded on Wednesday, highlights the agency’s relentless pursuit of corrupt officials embedded in government machinery.
According to CBI’s official statement released on Friday, the accused patwari was caught red-handed accepting Rs 15,000 from a complainant. The trap was meticulously laid after the victim reported the demand for a bribe to expedite land record corrections and issue an extract of the jamabandi.
The case originated on January 28 when the patwari allegedly demanded Rs 20,000 from a local resident for official services related to revenue records. Refusing to pay the full amount upfront, the complainant approached the CBI, triggering a swift investigation. Agents set up a sting operation, leading to the patwari’s capture mid-transaction.
This arrest underscores the pervasive issue of bribery within revenue departments, where patwaris wield significant control over land documentation—a critical aspect of rural life in India. The CBI emphasized that such actions demonstrate their zero-tolerance policy towards graft.
Authorities are continuing their probe, with the accused remanded for further questioning. In a call to action, the CBI urged citizens across Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, to report similar demands via the hotline 9419900977. This number connects directly to CBI and ACB for anonymous complaints, empowering the public to combat corruption at its roots.
As India pushes for digital governance to minimize human intervention, cases like this reveal the challenges ahead. The patwari’s arrest serves as a stark reminder that vigilance remains key to eradicating bribery from public services.