J&K ACB arrests Agriculture Deputy Director for ₹2 lakh bribe demand
Synopsis
A J&K Agriculture Deputy Director and his associate were caught red-handed in a sting operation accepting ₹50,000 from a seed dealer — part of a ₹2 lakh bribe demand for allowing routine business. The ACB trap, triggered by the dealer's complaint after he had already paid ₹1 lakh, underscores how regulatory authority in the agriculture sector is being allegedly weaponised for personal gain.
Key Takeaways
J&K ACB arrested Deputy Director Agriculture (Law Enforcement) Naseer Ahmad Khan and tout Mohd Owais Bhat on 30 September 2026 in Srinagar .
Khan had allegedly demanded ₹2 lakh from a seed dealer to permit him to sell plant seeds; ₹1 lakh had already been paid prior to the trap.
Both accused were caught red-handed accepting ₹50,000 ; tainted money was recovered from their possession.
Case registered as FIR No.
16/2026 under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and Section 61(2) BNS .
Both accused were lodged at Police Station Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar ; investigation is ongoing.
The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Deputy Director Agriculture (Law Enforcement) Naseer Ahmad Khan and his tout Mohd Owais Bhat on 30 September 2026 while they were caught red-handed accepting a bribe from a seed dealer in Srinagar. The trap operation, details of which were released on 1 October 2026, led to the recovery of ₹50,000 in tainted money from their possession.
How the Trap Was Set
According to the ACB, the bureau received a written complaint from a seed dealer alleging that Naseer Ahmad Khan had demanded a bribe of ₹2 lakh as the price for allowing the complainant to operate his seed-selling business. Under compulsion, the dealer had already paid ₹1 lakh in an earlier instalment. The remaining amount was to be paid in two tranches of ₹50,000 each, according to the ACB statement.
Unwilling to part with further money, the complainant approached the ACB, which verified the allegations as prima facie established. A case was registered as FIR No. 16/2026 under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 61(2) of the BNS, at Police Station ACB Srinagar.
Arrest and Recovery
A trap team was constituted on 30 September 2026. During the operation, Khan and his associate, Mohd Owais Bhat of Qamarwari, were apprehended while accepting ₹50,000 as illegal gratification from the complainant. Both accused were arrested on the spot, subjected to medico-legal formalities, and lodged at Police Station Shaheed Gunj, Srinagar. The tainted bribe money was recovered from their possession, the ACB confirmed.
Background: Role of the ACB
The Anti-Corruption Bureau is the premier specialised law-enforcement agency for Jammu and Kashmir, tasked with investigating bribery, corruption, and financial irregularities among public servants. Originally established in 1962 as the 'Anti-Corruption Organisation', it was subsequently renamed the 'State Vigilance Organisation' before being reconstituted as the ACB under the Prevention of Corruption Laws (Amendment) Act, 1983.
Investigation Status
The ACB confirmed that further investigation in the case is ongoing. This case is part of a broader pattern of ACB enforcement actions targeting public servants who allegedly leverage regulatory authority to extract payments from traders and businesspersons in the Union Territory.
Point of View
Bribery becomes the path of least resistance for small traders. The fact that the complainant had already paid ₹1 lakh before approaching the ACB suggests the coercion was sustained, not opportunistic. The ACB's trap mechanism works — but it is reactive, complaint-driven, and can only address cases where a victim is willing to come forward. Systemic reform in J&K's agriculture regulatory framework, including digitisation of permissions and third-party audits, would reduce the conditions that make such demands possible in the first place.
NationPress
1 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by the J&K ACB on 30 September 2026?
The ACB arrested Naseer Ahmad Khan , Deputy Director Agriculture (Law Enforcement), and his associate Mohd Owais Bhat of Qamarwari, Srinagar. Both were caught red-handed accepting ₹50,000 as illegal gratification from a seed dealer.
What was the total bribe amount demanded?
According to the ACB, Naseer Ahmad Khan demanded a total bribe of ₹2 lakh from the complainant seed dealer. Of this, ₹1 lakh had already been paid before the trap, and ₹50,000 was accepted during the ACB sting operation on 30 September 2026.
Why was the bribe being demanded?
The ACB stated that Khan demanded the bribe in exchange for allowing the seed dealer to sell plant seeds at his shop, effectively extorting payment for a regulatory permission that the official controlled.
Under which laws was the FIR registered?
The case was registered as FIR No. 16/2026 under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 61(2) of the BNS, at Police Station ACB Srinagar.
What is the J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau?
The J&K Anti-Corruption Bureau is the Union Territory's premier law-enforcement agency for investigating bribery, corruption, and financial irregularities among public servants. It was originally established in 1962 and evolved into its present form under the Prevention of Corruption Laws (Amendment) Act, 1983.
