J&K ACB Arrests Agriculture Department Deputy Director While Accepting Bribe

The arrests followed a trap operation conducted by the ACB on September 30 after the agency received a complaint from a seed dealer.

According to the ACB, the complainant alleged that Deputy Director Agriculture (Law Enforcement) Naseer Ahmad Khan had demanded Rs 2 lakh in exchange for allowing him to sell plant seeds from his shop.

The dealer told investigators that he had already paid Rs 1 lakh under pressure. Following negotiations, the remaining amount was allegedly agreed to be paid in two instalments of Rs 50,000 each.

Unwilling to make any further payment, the complainant approached the ACB seeking legal action. The bureau said a preliminary verification found the allegations to have substance, following which it registered FIR No. 16/2026 under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The ACB subsequently formed a trap team. During the operation, Khan was allegedly caught accepting Rs 50,000 from the complainant along with his alleged intermediary, identified as Mohd Owais Bhat of Qamarwari.

The ACB said both men were arrested at the spot and the alleged bribe amount of Rs 50,000 was recovered from their possession.

The accused were subsequently subjected to medico-legal formalities and lodged at the Shaheed Gunj Police Station in Srinagar. Further investigation into the case is underway, the bureau said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau is the Union Territory's specialised agency for investigating allegations involving bribery, corruption and financial irregularities by public servants. The organisation was originally established as the Anti-Corruption Organisation in 1962 and was later renamed the State Vigilance Organisation before becoming the Anti-Corruption Bureau.