Srinagar, Jul 31 (KNS): The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday filed a chargesheet before the Special Anti-Corruption Court in Baramulla against a former tehsildar and a private individual for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ?1 lakh for granting permission to cut walnut trees in Kupwara district.
The chargesheet was filed against Ghulam Rasool Bhat, the then Tehsildar of Qaziabad, Kralgund, and Rafi Ahmad Lone, a private person, in FIR No. 04/2025 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, following completion of the investigation, an ACB spokesperson said.
The case was registered on a complaint alleging that the public servant had sought illegal gratification for processing permission to cut walnut trees for commercial purposes, the spokesperson said.
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After verifying the allegations, the ACB laid a trap on June 20, 2025, at Kralgund in Handwara, during which the then tehsildar was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the remaining bribe amount of ?50,000, the official said.
The tainted currency was recovered as per legal procedure, the spokesperson added.
Both the accused were arrested and later released on bail by the competent court, the ACB said.
The bureau said it obtained the requisite prosecution sanction from the competent authority before presenting the chargesheet before the court for judicial determination.
The case will now be heard by the special court in accordance with law, officials added. (KNS)