A team of the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau, Rohtak, has arrested a patwari, identified as Suresh Kumar, red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh.

The accused was allegedly demanding an illegal gratification of Rs 1.2 lakh from a complainant for making an entry in the land records required for obtaining a Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan.

A case has been registered at the Anti-Corruption Bureau police station, Rohtak, under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The complainant approached the Bureau and alleged that he had visited Patwari Suresh Kumar of Lakhan Majra tehsil with all necessary documents for getting his land records updated for availing a KCC loan.

“As part of his official duty, the patwari was required to make entries in the offline land records and verify them by signing the documents. However, the accused allegedly demanded Rs 1.2 lakh as a bribe in exchange for carrying out the official work. After verifying the complaint, the bureau team laid a trap. During the operation, Patwari Suresh Kumar was caught red-handed while accepting Rs 1 lakh from the complainant. The entire bribe amount was recovered from the spot,” said the spokesman.

The spokesman said that legal proceedings against the accused were being initiated under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.