A land demarcation request turned into a corruption sting in Kashmir. Acting on a complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught two government officials red-handed while accepting a bribe. What led investigators to move so swiftly?
CBI Arrests Revenue Officials in Srinagar
Srinagar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two public servants in a bribery case in Jammu and Kashmir, catching them red-handed while allegedly accepting illegal gratification from a complainant. The arrests were made during a trap operation conducted on January 15, 2026, officials said.
According to the CBI, the case was registered on January 15, 2026, against a Patwari posted in the Revenue Department at Halqa Soaf Shali, Kokernag, in Anantnag district. The accused Patwari allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹30,000 from the complainant in exchange for carrying out the demarcation of the complainant’s land.
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The complainant approached the CBI after repeated demands for illegal gratification, prompting the agency to initiate a verification and subsequently register a formal case.
Following the registration of the case, the CBI laid a trap and apprehended the accused Patwari along with a Chowkidar, who was allegedly acting as a middleman in the transaction. Both were caught red-handed while accepting ₹15,000, the first installment of the demanded bribe.
The Chowkidar, also a public servant posted in the same Halqa, allegedly facilitated the bribe exchange between the complainant and the Patwari, investigators said.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
Muneeb Farooq, Patwari, Revenue Department, Halqa Soaf Shali, Kokernag, Anantnag
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Farooq Ahmad Wani, Chowkidar, Halqa Soaf Shali, Kokernag, Anantnag
Both accused have been taken into custody following the successful trap operation.
The CBI has stated that further investigation is underway to determine whether other officials were involved in the case and to examine similar complaints, if any. Officials said additional searches and procedural formalities may be conducted as part of the probe.
The agency reiterated its commitment to taking strict action against corruption in public offices and urged citizens to report instances of bribery and misuse of official position.
