UDHAMPUR, January 06, 2026: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has successfully trapped and arrested Pardhan Singh, a Patwari serving in Patwar Halqa Laddha, Tehsil Moungri, for demanding and accepting a bribe.
The action followed a formal complaint alleging that the public servant, along with a concerned Girdawar, had demanded ₹10,000 to process a “Virasiti Intkal” (inheritance mutation) and provide the necessary “nakal” (certified copies). Unwilling to comply with the illegal demand, the complainant approached the ACB to seek legal intervention against the accused.Upon receiving the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification which confirmed the bribery demand.
Consequently, FIR No. 01/2026 was registered at Police Station ACB Udhampur under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
A specialized trap team, led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, was subsequently organized to apprehend the official during the exchange of the illicit funds.
The operation culminated in the red-handed arrest of Pardhan Singh while he was accepting a bribe installment of ₹5,000 from the complainant. The marked currency was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses.
Following the arrest, the ACB team, accompanied by a Magistrate, conducted extensive searches at the accused’s rented accommodations in Sailan Talab, Udhampur, and Basnote, Tehsil Moungri. While the Patwari remains in custody, the investigation is ongoing to further scrutinize the role of the Girdawar and other related administrative processes.
