𝐓𝐞𝐡𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐭

Kupwara, June 21: In a striking corruption case, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday arrested Ghulam Rasool Bhat, Tehsildar of Qaziabad Kralgund, Handwara, for allegedly soliciting a bribe of ₹1 lakh in exchange for permission to cut walnut trees.

He was apprehended red-handed while accepting the second installment of ₹50,000 from a complainant at his private residence in Handwara.

According to the ACB, the complainant, a financially constrained local resident, approached the bureau alleging that the tehsildar had demanded a total of ₹1 lakh to approve two walnut tree-cutting permits. Despite expressing his inability to pay the full amount, the applicant was allegedly coerced into making an initial payment of ₹50,000. Bhat allegedly withheld the permits until the remaining amount was paid.

After verifying the complaint, the ACB registered FIR No. 04/2025 under Section 7 of the amended Prevention of Corruption Act, 2018, and laid a trap. Bhat and his alleged accomplice, Rafi Ahmad Lone from Pathora Kralgund, were caught accepting the remaining ₹50,000 at Bhat’s residence.

The ACB recovered the bribe money during the operation, along with an additional ₹79,000 in unexplained cash. Both individuals have been remanded to seven days of police custody by the Special Anti-Corruption Court, Baramulla.

Notably, this is not the first time Bhat has faced corruption charges. In 2021, he was implicated in a separate case related to illegal land mutations. Investigations are ongoing to determine his involvement in other potentially corrupt practices, including the possible role of other officials.

The incident highlights the persistent misuse of administrative authority for personal gain, especially in routine matters such as tree-cutting permissions.