The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir, has caught a Senior Assistant posted at the Sub-Division Agriculture Office in Handwara red-handed while allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000 for releasing a pending subsidy bill.

The accused has been identified as Irshad Ahmad Peer, who was apprehended during a trap operation conducted by the ACB Police Station Baramulla.

Complaint Triggers ACB Investigation

According to the ACB, a written complaint was received at Police Station Baramulla alleging that the accused official had demanded Rs 40,000 from the complainant in exchange for releasing a subsidy bill for a tractor purchased by the complainant’s brother under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).

Following the receipt of the complaint, the ACB conducted a discreet verification of the allegations. During the verification, the allegations regarding the demand for illegal gratification were found to be substantiated, the bureau said.

FIR Registered Under Prevention of Corruption Act

Based on the complaint and the verification report, the ACB found a prima facie case involving an offence punishable under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.

Accordingly, FIR No. 06/2026 was registered at Police Station ACB Baramulla on October 12, 2026, and an investigation was initiated.

Trap Laid, Rs 40,000 Recovered

Following the registration of the FIR, an ACB trap team was constituted in accordance with the prescribed procedure, with independent witnesses associated with the operation.

During the trap operation, the accused official was apprehended while allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000. The amount was recovered from his possession, and the recovery was documented and corroborated by other evidence gathered during the operation, the ACB said.

Accused Arrested, Investigation Underway

The accused has been arrested and taken into custody, while further investigation into the case is underway.

The ACB is investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged demand for a bribe in exchange for releasing the subsidy bill under the HADP scheme.

The case underscores the importance of accountability and transparency in the delivery of government services, particularly in matters involving agricultural subsidies and financial assistance to beneficiaries.

Senior agriculture officer was arrested earlier.
Notably, earlier, the Anti-Corruption Bureau Srinagar trapped Deputy Director of Agriculture Law Enforcement Naseer Ahmad Khan along with his tout while demanding and accepting illegal gratification.

ACB received a written complaint alleging that the accused public servant, namely Naseer Ahmad has demanded a bribe of Rs 2.0 lakh from a seed dealer for allowing the complainant to sell plant seeds at his shop. Under compulsion the complainant had already paid the bribe amount of Rs1.0 lakh. Following negotiations, the further amount was to be paid in two instalments of Rs 50000/- each.

As the complainant was unwilling to pay the bribe, they thus approached the ACB and requested legal action against the accused public servant.

Upon receipt of the complaint, the allegations were verified, and the verification prima facie established the illegal gratification of Rs 2.0 lakh. Accordingly, Case FIR No. 16/2026 under Section 7, 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 & Section 61(2) BNS was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar, and an investigation was taken up.

Accordingly, a trap team was constituted to lay a trap. During the trap proceedings, the accused public servant, namely Naseer Ahmad Khan, Deputy Director of Agriculture Law Enforcement, along with his tout, namely Mohammad Owais Bhat, resident of Qamarwari, was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs. 50,000 as illegal gratification from the complainant. Both the accused public servant and his tout were arrested on the spot.

The tainted bribe money of Rs 50000/- was recovered from their possession on the spot. Both accused persons were subjected to medico-legal formalities and have been lodged in Police Station Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar, for safe custody.