Srinagar: The Special Judge, Anti-Corruption, Jammu, Haq Nawaz Zargar, has convicted former Naib Tehsildar Faryad Ahmed and then Patwari Yadav Chander, sentencing them to four years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine in a ₹90,000 bribery case dating back to 2019.
The case originated on April 16, 2019, when complainant Javed Ashraf approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Jammu, alleging that the two revenue officials had demanded ₹90,000 for issuing the Fard Intikhab of two marlas of land at Jhajjar Kotli along the National Highway. Following the complaint, the ACB registered FIR No. 11/2019 under the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B RPC.
A trap team, led by DySP Abdul Wahid Giri, was constituted, and after conducting pre-trap formalities in the presence of independent witnesses, the complainant visited the Naib Tehsildar’s office. Both accused reiterated their demand, and the complainant handed over ₹90,000 to Faryad Ahmed in the presence of Yadav Chander. The trap team immediately intervened, recovering the tainted money from Ahmed’s office drawer. Chemical analysis of his hand wash confirmed traces of phenolphthalein powder, establishing his involvement.
During the trial, APP M.A. Almansoor represented the prosecution for the Union Territory of J&K and examined 15 witnesses, including independent officials and trap team members, whose testimonies supported the case. The accused, represented by Advocate K.S. Charak, denied the allegations, claiming false implication. However, the court found the oral, documentary, and scientific evidence conclusive in proving their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Convicting both officials under Sections 5(1)(d) read with 5(2) and 4-A of the J&K Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120-B RPC, the court awarded each four years of rigorous imprisonment and fine. Judge Zargar observed that corruption in revenue offices erodes public trust and emphasized the need for deterrent punishment to uphold the integrity of governance.
