Patwari, private assistant caught taking Rs 15K bribe in Panipat

A team of the State Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB) nabbed a patwari and his private assistant red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 15,000 for issuing an ownership report of a residential plot at Sithana village of Panipat district.

The accused have been identified as Sandeep, posted as patwari in the Madlauda tehsil office, and his private assistant Jaibhagwan.

According to the complainant, he owned a 160 sq ft plot at Sithana village and some other persons had encroached upon a part of it. The complainant said he wanted the demarcation of his plot done to get an ownership report.

The complainant said he contacted patwari Sandeep. However, the patwari and his private assistant Jaibhagwan demanded Rs 15,000 for conducting demarcation and issuing an ownership certificate, he alleged in a complaint to the State Vigilance & Anti-Corruption Bureau, Panipat unit.

Following the complaint, the Anti-Corruption Bureau registered a case against Sandeep and Jaibhagwan under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and laid a trap.

On Wednesday evening, as the patwari and his private assistant took the bribe from the complainant, the ACB team nabbed them red-handed and recovered the amount.

The ACB has begun a probe into the matter.