ACB chargesheets former Tehsildar, private man in bribery trap case

Srinagar, Jul 31: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday said it has filed a chargesheet against former Tehsildar of Qaziabad, Kralgund, Ghulam Rasool Bhat, and a private individual in a rupees 1 lakh bribery trap case linked to permission for commercial felling of walnut trees, officials said.
In a statement, a spokesperson said the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu & Kashmir, has presented a chargesheet before the Court of Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Baramulla, in FIR No. 04/2025 against Ghulam Rasool Bhat, then Tehsildar, Qaziabad, Kralgund, District Kupwara, and a private individual, Rafi Ahmad Lone, in connection with a bribery trap case involving illegal gratification of rupees 1 lakh.
He said the case was registered on the basis of a complaint alleging demand of a bribe for issuance of permission to cut walnut trees for commercial purposes. Upon verification of the allegations, a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, was registered and investigation was initiated by Police Station ACB Baramulla.
The spokesperson said that during a trap laid on June 20, 2025, the accused public servant was allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting the balance bribe amount of rupees 50,000 at Kralgund in Handwara. The tainted money was recovered in accordance with law, and both accused were arrested and subsequently released on bail by the Court.
He said that upon completion of the investigation and obtaining the requisite prosecution sanction from the competent authority, the chargesheet was filed before the Court for judicial determination. (KNO)