Deputy Director of Agriculture Department Arrested for Bribery in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, October 1 (Daily Kiran) : A deputy director from the agriculture department in Jammu and Kashmir has been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly accepting a bribe from a seed dealer. Alongside him, his alleged accomplice was also taken into custody.

Officials reported that the ACB conducted a trap operation on Wednesday, with details released in a statement on Thursday. According to the ACB, they received a written complaint from a seed dealer who claimed that Nasir Ahmed Khan, the deputy director of Agriculture Law Enforcement, demanded a bribe of ₹2 lakh in exchange for granting permission to sell plant seeds at his store.

The complainant stated that he had already paid ₹1 lakh due to pressure. Following negotiations, they agreed on paying the remaining amount in two installments of ₹50,000 each. After deciding not to proceed with the bribe, the complainant contacted the ACB for legal action. During verification, the allegations were found to be prima facie valid. Consequently, an FIR was filed under sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and section 61(2) of the BNS, initiating an investigation.

On September 30, the ACB formed a trap team. During the operation, they caught Nasir Ahmed Khan red-handed while he was allegedly demanding and accepting ₹50,000 in illegal bribes from the complainant, along with his accomplice, Mohammad Owais Bhat.

Mohammad Owais Bhat is reported to be a resident of Qamarwari. Both individuals were arrested at the scene, and ₹50,000 in bribe money was recovered from them. After completing the necessary medico-legal formalities, they were detained at the Shaheed Ganj police station in Srinagar. The ACB has stated that further investigations are ongoing.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau serves as the principal law enforcement agency in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, focusing on cases of bribery, corruption, and financial irregularities among government employees. Established in 1962 as the ‘Anti-Corruption Organization,’ it was renamed the ‘State Vigilance Organization’ in 1983 under the Prevention of Corruption Laws (Amendment) Act, later evolving into the ACB.