SRINAGAR — The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Jammu and Kashmir trapped Deputy Director Agriculture Law Enforcement Naseer Ahmad Khan along with his alleged tout while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a seed dealer in Srinagar.
According to the ACB, it had received a written complaint alleging that Naseer Ahmad Khan had demanded Rs 2 lakh from the complainant, a seed dealer, for allowing him to sell plant seeds at his shop.
The complainant had allegedly already paid Rs 1 lakh under compulsion, while following negotiations, the remaining amount was to be paid in two instalments of Rs 50,000 each.
Unwilling to pay the remaining bribe, the complainant approached the ACB and requested legal action against the accused public servant.
The ACB said that the allegations were verified and the verification prima facie established the demand for illegal gratification of Rs 2 lakh. Subsequently, Case FIR No. 16/2026 under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at Police Station ACB Srinagar, and an investigation was taken up.
On September 30, 2026, a trap team was constituted to lay a trap. During the proceedings, the ACB said, Naseer Ahmad Khan, Deputy Director Agriculture Law Enforcement, along with his alleged tout, Mohd Owais Bhat of Qamarwari, was caught red-handed while allegedly demanding and accepting Rs 50,000 as illegal gratification from the complainant.
Both the accused public servant and his alleged tout were arrested on the spot, while the tainted bribe money of Rs 50,000 was recovered from their possession, the ACB said.
The two accused were subsequently subjected to medico-legal formalities and lodged at Police Station Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar, for safe custody.
Further investigation into the case is in progress, the ACB said. — (KIMS)