2 revenue officials arrested for taking bribe

Two revenue department officials were today arrested for allegedly accepting Rs 2,000 as bribe from a person to facilitate transfer of a piece of land in his favour here, a spokesman of the State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) said.
Patwari of Natipora 'Halqa' (area) Showket Ahmad Sofi and orderly Abdul Rashid Dar were caught red-handed while accepting bribe of Rs 2,000 from Faisal Lateef, a resident of Mehjoor Nagar locality of the city, the spokesman said.
He said Lateef had lodged a written complaint with the anti-graft body, stating the revenue officials demanded bribe of Rs 3,500 for preparation of necessary documents as his maternal uncle was transferring a piece of land in his favour at Mehjoor Nagar.

Since he required revenue extracts of the land, Lateef said he had already paid Rs 1,500 to the officials and had arranged the balance to be paid to the accused today, the spokesman said.
On receipt of the complaint, he said a case under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code was registered and a trap was laid and the accused were caught red-handed while accepting the bribe.
"The tainted money was recovered from their possession along with previous amount of Rs 1,500. During the personal search of the patwari and his assistant, Rs 45,000 has been recovered. Both the accused were arrested on the spot," the spokesman said.