Srinagar, Mar 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Sunday arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) posted at Police Station Larnoo in Anantnag for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe.
According to an official statement, the ACB received a written complaint alleging that the SPO, identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, demanded money for the release of vehicle documents.
“The complainant stated that on March 26, 2026, he was driving a load carrier from Mati to Badihar when he was stopped by a police naka party at Badihar Bridge. The police party checked the vehicle and documents but did not return them and asked him to report to Police Station Larnoo the next day,” the statement said.
It added that on March 27, when the complainant visited the police station, the SPO allegedly demanded ₹30,000 for releasing the documents, which was later reduced to ₹25,000 over phone and finally settled at ₹18,000.
“The complainant chose not to pay the bribe and instead approached the Anti-Corruption Bureau for legal action against the said police official,” the statement said.
“On receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted which confirmed the demand, following which a case FIR No. 03/2026 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) was registered at Police Station ACB Anantnag and investigation was taken up,” it added.
During the investigation, a trap team was constituted, which successfully laid a trap and caught the accused official red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount.
“The accused, identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat No. 176/SPO of Police Station Larnoo, S/o Khazir Mohammad Bhat R/o Batpora Larnoo Kokernag Anantnag, was arrested on the spot and the bribe money was recovered from his possession in the presence of independent witnesses,” the statement said.
Subsequently, searches were conducted at the residential houses of the accused in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses.
Further investigation into the case is underway, the statement added.
