SRINAGAR, JUNE 14: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested three individuals, including a Forest Range Officer, in connection with an alleged bribery case in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district.
According to officials, the arrests were made after the CBI registered an FIR over allegations that Forest Department officials demanded a bribe for releasing official documents related to a family-owned furniture unit.
The accused include a Range Officer, a forester and a casual labourer. The case was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act following a complaint from a Budgam resident, who alleged that officials had seized documents linked to the furniture unit and later demanded ₹15,000 for their release. The amount was allegedly negotiated down to ₹10,000.
After verifying the complaint, the CBI registered a formal case and launched an investigation through its Anti-Corruption Branch in Srinagar.
During the probe, a CBI trap team was constituted, which allegedly caught the accused officials red-handed while accepting the bribe amount.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
