The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer (SDAO) and two other individuals in Jammu and Kashmir in connection with a bribery case, according to official sources.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the arrested SDAO has been identified as Rajan Sharma. He is accused of demanding a bribe of Rs 35,000 from a complainant. The money was allegedly sought in exchange for releasing a subsidy allocated under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP).
The complainant reportedly informed the CBI that Sharma had instructed him to deliver the bribe either to an Agricultural Extension Assistant (AEA) named Abhilashi Sharma or to a private individual, Ashok Kumar. Following this information, the CBI initiated a covert operation.
As part of the operation, the CBI laid a trap and successfully apprehended both the Agricultural Extension Assistant, Abhilashi Sharma, and the private person, Ashok Kumar. They were caught red-handed while allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 from the complainant, officials stated.
Following the arrests of theAEA and the private individual, SDAO Rajan Sharma was subsequently arrested from his residence. The CBI spokesperson confirmed the details of the operation and the subsequent arrests.
The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the CBI continues its probe into the alleged corruption within the agriculture department. The incident highlights concerns regarding the integrity of subsidy disbursement processes and the role of officials in ensuring fair implementation of agricultural schemes.
The Chenab Times News Desk