Anantnag, March 29, 2026 : In a decisive anti-corruption action, the Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau on Sunday trapped and arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) of J&K Police for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹18,000 in Anantnag district.
The accused, Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, posted at Police Station Larnoo, was caught red-handed by the ACB team while demanding and accepting the रिश्वत amount.
How The Trap Was Laid
According to officials, the ACB received a written complaint stating that the complainant’s load carrier was stopped by a police naka at Badihar Bridge on March 26. After checking documents, the police allegedly withheld them and asked the driver to report to Police Station Larnoo the next day.
When the complainant approached the police station, the SPO allegedly demanded ₹30,000 for releasing the documents, later reducing the amount to ₹25,000 over phone, which was finally settled at ₹18,000.
Refusing to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau for legal action.
Swift Action By ACB
After discreet verification confirmed the allegations, the ACB registered an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act and constituted a trap team.The team successfully caught the accused red-handed during the transaction, recovering the bribe amount in the presence of independent witnesses.
Search & Investigation Ongoing
Following the arrest, searches were conducted at the accused’s residence in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses. Further investigation into the case is underway.
The action highlights the ACB’s continued crackdown on corruption and reinforces the message of zero tolerance against bribery in public services.
