CBI arrests JKAS officer for accepting bribe of Rs 20,000 in Srinagar

Srinagar, Sept 19: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday arrested a Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Service (JKAS) officer while allegedly accepting a bribe in Srinagar.

Officials said that the accused has been identified as Sargaraz Ahmad Bhat, currently posted as State Sales Tax Officer at the Silk Factory office in Solina, Srinagar. He was caught red-handed while demanding and accepting an amount of Rs 20,000.

According to sources, the trap was laid following a complaint, and sleuths of the CBI moved swiftly to apprehend the officer inside his office premises. “The officer was taken into custody immediately after the transaction, and the bribe money was recovered from him,” an official said.

The CBI has registered a formal case and further investigations are underway to ascertain whether the accused was involved in other instances of corrupt practices.

Officials added that the arrest reflects the agency’s continued efforts to curb corruption in government offices and ensure accountability among officials holding public positions. [KNT]