Anti-Corruption Bureau Jammu presented the charge sheet before Addl. Sessions Judge Anti-Corruption Kathua in case FIR No. 01/2020 P/S ACB-Jammu U/S 7 (a) P.C Act (amendment 2018) r/w PC Act 1988 against Romesh Chander then Patwari Halqa, Bhaddu Tehsil Billawar. The instant case FIR was registered on the written complaint lodged by Hukam Chand, S/o Mallu Ram R/o Beral, A/P Bhaddu Tehsil Billawar District Kathua, wherein he stated that in the year 1998 his father had purchased 04 marlas of land from Subash Chander S/o Chandu R/o Barel, in khasra No. 2244/1694 and about 10 years ago his father died.
The complainant further stated that he along with Subash Chander approached Romesh Chander Patwari Halqa Bhaddu for issuance of ‘Fard Intikhab’ who directed him to file an application and get it marked to him from Tehsildar Billawar. Accordingly he moved an application and got it marked to the Patwari and the Patwari Romesh Kumar told him to come to his office on 16.01.2020.
On 16.01.2020 he went to the Patwari concerned who demanded Rs. 10,000/- as bribe for issuance of ‘Fard Intikhab’. The complainant did not want to pay the bribe as such he lodged the instant complaint against the Patwari and requested for legal action against him. Accordingly, on receipt of the instant complaint, a pre trap verification was conducted which confirmed that the Patwari concerned had indeed demanded and agreed to accept the bribe of Rs. 10,000/- for issuance of ‘Fard Intikhab’. On the basis of this complaint and pre-verification report, case FIR No. 01/2020 U/S 7 of PC Act 1988 (as amended in 2018) was registered at P/S ACB-Jammu.
After registration of the instant case FIR, a trap team was constituted for laying of trap. Subsequently, a trap was laid and the accused Romesh Chander then Patwari Halqa, Bhaddu was caught red handed in presence of independent witnesses while demanding and accepting bribe amount of Rs. 10,000/- from the complainant.
After completion of investigation and obtaining prosecution sanction against the accused public servant, a charge sheet for commission of offence U/s 7 of PC Act 1988 (as amended in 2018) against accused person namely Romesh Chander then Patwari Halqa Bhaddu was presented before the Addl. Sessions Judge, Anti-Corruption, Kathua for judicial determination today on 05.10.2021. The next date of hearing in the instant case FIR has been fixed on 17.11.2021.