A resident of Machhedi village, Kathua district, filed a complaint with the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) accusing Gulshan Singh, the Patwari (land record official) for Machhedi, of demanding a bribe.
The complainant alleges Singh demanded Rs. 5,000 for issuing Virsati Intqal mutations (land inheritance records) and a legal heir certificate. The complainant had already applied online and met Singh for document issuance. Singh allegedly received Rs. 2,000 as an advance and demanded the remaining Rs. 3,000 to complete the process.
Based on the complaint, which suggested an offense under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) 1988, the ACB registered a case (FIR No. 02/2023) at the Police Station ACB Central and began investigating.
An undercover team was formed and caught Singh red-handed while demanding and accepting the remaining Rs. 3,000 bribe in the presence of witnesses. He was arrested following proper legal procedures.
A search was also conducted at Singh’s residence in Ward No. 21, Ram Nagar Colony, Kathua. The investigation is ongoing.
