A bold anti-corruption sting in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the red-handed arrest of a patwari demanding Rs 10,000 bribe for land records update. The ACB’s operation reaffirms its role as a bulwark against official misconduct.
The scam surfaced when an aggrieved landowner approached authorities after the patwari repeatedly postponed his mutation application. Insisting on ‘tea money,’ the official’s actions violated every code of conduct for public servants.
Trap laid with precision, the ACB team witnessed the exchange and pounced, securing the cash and the culprit. Legal proceedings under the PC Act are in motion, promising rigorous scrutiny of his tenure.
In the broader context, J&K has ramped up oversight on revenue ops following public outcry. This arrest disrupts a pattern of petty corruption eroding trust in governance. Digital initiatives are underway to streamline processes and reduce opportunities for extortion.
Residents view this as a beacon of hope, with calls for similar vigilance elsewhere. The patwari’s fate hangs in balance as probes reveal potential accomplices. J&K’s administration eyes a corruption-free future, one bust at a time.