Patwari arrested for taking bribe

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 18

The Vigilance Department has arrested a patwari for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 30,000 for transferring property in the name of a farmer. The accused was identified as Lakhwinder Singh.

The Vigilance has registered a case under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against him. According to Vigilance officials, the accused had been harassing the farmer and the complainant in the case, Iqbal Singh, for transferring the property in his name. The officials said though the victim had already given him Rs 20,000 as bribe, but he was demanding Rs 30,000 more.

Perturbed over this, Iqbal Singh lodged a complaint with the Vigilance. DSP, Vigilance, Navjot Singh said a trap was laid and the accused was arrested red-handed while taking the bribe of Rs 30,000.

He said Iqbal Singh had seven kanal of government land where he was doing agriculture for the past many years. He said the Jamabandi of the land was in the name of some other person. He said he had met Lakhwinder Singh for transferring the Jamabandi of the land in his name. He said first the patwari was dilly dallying in the matter. He said first he gave him money for taking out the related documents of the land, later he demanded Rs 50,000 as bribe for transferring the land in his name. He said though he gave Rs 20,000 to him and pleaded with him to transfer the Jamabandi, but he continued to demand Rs 30,000 more.