Srinagar, June 14: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) announced on Sunday that it has arrested three employees of the Forest Department in Budgam district, Jammu and Kashmir, on corruption charges.
According to CBI sources, the arrested individuals include two forest officials and a casual laborer from the same department.
The arrested persons have been identified as Manzoor Ahmad Malik, a ranger from Kawusa, Magam; Manzoor Ahmad Dar, a forester from Nussgam, Khansahib; and Bashir Ahmad Gani, a casual laborer from Ramahama, Beerwah.
These arrests were made in connection with FIR number 05/2026 registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act at the CBI police station in Kashmir.
Earlier, a CBI team laid a trap in the Beerwah area of Budgam district, capturing Bashir Ahmad Gani while he was allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹15,000.
This operation was initiated following allegations of illegal monetary demands. Sources indicate that further investigations are ongoing.
The Union Territory has its own anti-corruption body, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), which is authorized to investigate and prevent corruption among government officials.
The CBI holds primary jurisdiction to investigate corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988, primarily concerning employees of the central government, Union Territory officials, and employees of central public sector undertakings (PSUs) and public sector banks.
There are specific operational rules associated with the CBI’s anti-corruption jurisdiction and its application.
The CBI’s jurisdiction applies to officials under the control of the central government. Typically, state government employees fall under the jurisdiction of the state’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Since policing is a state subject, the CBI operates in states through ‘general consent’ provided by the respective state governments under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act.
Several states have revoked this general consent, meaning the CBI requires case-specific consent or a court order to conduct investigations in those areas.
The Supreme Court or High Court can grant the CBI the authority to investigate any corruption case anywhere in the country, even if the state government denies consent.
The Supreme Court has also clarified that local state police forces and ACBs have jurisdiction to file and investigate cases against central government employees operating within their states under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
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