NAWANSHEHAR: In a A drive against corrupt officials, the local vigilance bureau Friday caught red-handed a patwari while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a woman.

According to DSP G.S.Aulakh who led the team, the complainant Pritam Kaur of Rahon, was working as a tiller on 27.5 acre of land belonging to Central government. She wanted to get copies of "farad jamabandi" and "girdawari" for which the halqa patwari Sarwan Kumar demanded Rs 10,000.

The complainant agreed to give the bribe money in two instalments of Rs 5,000 each, said the DSP, adding that as the complainant did not actually want to pay the bribe, she approached the vigilance bureau. Acting on the complaint, a trap was laid and the patwari was arrested while accepting illegal gratification.

The DSP added that recovery was efected in the presence of witnesses SDO Surinder Singh of Sewerage Board and Raj Mal, Tehsil Welfare Officer. A case waw registered in PS Vigilance Bureau, Jalandhatr under section 7,13 (2),88 PC Act 1988.