Srinagar, April 13: A Special Anti-Corruption Court in Srinagar on Monday convicted a former Patwari in a corruption case dating back to 2007, sentencing him to one year of imprisonment along with a fine of ₹10,000.
The judgment was delivered by Special Judge Anti-Corruption, Tasleem Arif, in connection with FIR No. 20/2007 registered by the then Police Station Vigilance Organisation Kashmir (VOK), now the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
According to officials, the case pertained to allegations that the accused, G. Q. Bhat, who was serving as Patwari Halqa Khushipora Zainkot at the time, had demanded and accepted a bribe of ₹3,000 from a complainant for implementing a land mutation in his favour.
The FIR was registered on April 1, 2007, under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Ranbir Penal Code. Following an investigation by the Vigilance Organisation (now ACB), a charge sheet was filed before the Anti-Corruption Court on February 29, 2008.
Prosecution authorities stated that the charges were established beyond reasonable doubt through oral and documentary evidence presented during the trial.
Upon conclusion of the proceedings, the court convicted the accused under Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and awarded a sentence of one year’s imprisonment along with a monetary penalty of ₹10,000.
The case was argued on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Bureau Srinagar by Senior Prosecuting Officer Wajahat Jameel.
Officials said the conviction underscores the agency’s continued efforts to pursue corruption cases and ensure accountability in public service.
