Anantnag, Mar 29 : The Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Sunday trapped and arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) posted at Police Station Larnoo in Anantnag district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 18,000 from a complainant.
An ACB spokesperson said the action was taken following a written complaint stating that the complainant’s vehicle documents were seized by a police naka party at Badihar Bridge on March 26. He was directed to report to Police Station Larnoo the next day.
On March 27, the complainant met SPO Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, who initially demanded Rs 30,000 for the return of the documents, later settling the amount at Rs 18,000, the spokesperson said.
After a discreet verification confirmed the demand, the ACB registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and laid a trap.
The official, identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe. The amount was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses, the spokesperson added.
Searches were conducted at his residence in Batpora Larnoo, Kokernag. Further investigation is underway, the ACB said. (KNS)
