Srinagar: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday said it had arrested Deputy Director Agriculture (Law Enforcement) Naseer Ahmad Khan and an alleged middleman after they were caught accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a seed dealer in Srinagar.
According to an ACB spokesperson, the bureau received a written complaint alleging that Khan had demanded Rs 2 lakh from a seed dealer in return for allowing him to sell plant seeds through his shop. The complainant alleged that he had already paid Rs 1 lakh and that the remaining amount was to be paid in two instalments of Rs 50,000 each.
The complainant subsequently approached the ACB, stating that he was unwilling to pay the bribe and sought legal action against the accused, the spokesperson said.
Following verification of the allegations, the ACB registered 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) at Police Station ACB Srinagar and initiated an investigation.
The agency said a trap team was constituted on September 30. During the operation, Khan and an alleged tout, identified as Mohd Owais Bhat of Qamarwari, were allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 50,000 from the complainant.
The ACB claimed that the tainted money was recovered from the accused during the operation. Both were arrested and subjected to medico-legal formalities before being lodged at Police Station Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar.
Further investigation is underway, officials said.
