Deputy Director Agriculture among two arrested “red handed” taking bribe in Srinagar: ACB

The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) J&K has trapped Deputy Director Agriculture Law Enforcement Naseer Ahmad Khan alongwith his tout while demanding and accepting illegal gratification, ACB said on Thursday.
In a press statement, the ACB said that a written complaint was received alleging that the accused public servant namely Naseer Ahmad has demanded a bribe of Rs 2 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 Rs 1 lakh. Following negotiations, the further amount was to be paid in two instalments Rs 50000 each, ACB said.
As the complainant was unwilling to pay the bribe, he 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 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 investigation was taken up.
Accordingly, on 30/09/2026, a trap team was constituted to lay a trap. During the trap proceedings, the accused public servant, namely Naseer Ahmad Khan Deputy Director Agriculture Law Enforcement along with his tout namely Mohd Owais Bhat R/O Qamarwari, was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs. 50,000 as illegal gratification from the complainant. Both the accused public servant as well as his tout were arrested on the spot, ACB added.
The tainted bribe money of Rs 50000 was recovered from their possession on spot. Both accused persons were subjected to medico-legal formalities and have been lodged in Police Station Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar, for safe custody, ACB said.
Further investigation in the case is in progress.