Srinagar, October 1: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a Deputy Director of Agriculture and an alleged tout for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 from a seed dealer in Srinagar.
The accused public servant has been identified as Naseer Ahmad Khan, Deputy Director, Agriculture Law Enforcement, while the alleged tout has been identified as Mohd Owais Bhat, a resident of Qamarwari.
According to officials, the ACB Srinagar 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 at his shop.
The complainant had allegedly already paid Rs 1 lakh to the accused, while the remaining amount was agreed to be paid in two instalments of Rs 50,000 each.
Unwilling to make any further payment, the complainant approached the ACB and sought legal action.
The allegations were subsequently verified by the bureau, which found prima facie evidence of a demand for illegal gratification of Rs 2 lakh, officials said.
Following the verification, 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.
A trap team was constituted on September 30 to catch the accused while accepting the bribe.
During the trap operation, Khan and Bhat were allegedly caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 50,000 from the complainant, officials said.
The tainted money was recovered from the accused on the spot. Both men were arrested and subsequently subjected to medico-legal formalities before being lodged at Police Station Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar, for safe custody.
Further investigation into the case is underway, officials said.
