CBI arrests 2 J&K Agriculture Department officials for accepting bribe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested two officials of Jammu and Kashmir’s agriculture directorate for accepting bribes. The two officials have been identified as Plant Protection Officer (PPO), Devender Sharma and Field Assistant Rajender Kumar.

They had accepted Rs 12,000 as a bribe from a member of the agricultural cooperative society.

WHAT IS THE CASE

One case was recorded by a member of an agricultural cooperative society which deals with sales, storage and distribution. He accused the two officials of allegedly demanding Rs 15,000 as a bribe.

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According to the complainant, the request was made after he filed an application with the PPO requesting the addition of pesticides from certain companies to his cooperative society’s license. They demanded the money in order to approve his request. Later, the amount was reduced to Rs 12,000 after negotiations.

The CBI set a trap for the two defendants and caught them as they accepted the bribe of Rs 12,000 from the plaintiff. Subsequently, the authorities carried out searches of the office and residential premises of the accused.

The two arrested officials will be brought before the Jammu Court of the Special Judge for CBI Cases today.

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