: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Sunday arrested a Special Police Officer (SPO) of Police Station Larnoo in Anantnag district for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹18,000, officials said.
The accused has been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmad Bhat, posted at Police Station Larnoo in the Kokernag area of south Kashmir.
The action follows a complaint alleging demand of illegal gratification for release of vehicle documents, highlighting continued efforts by anti-corruption agencies to curb graft in public services.
According to the ACB, 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 personnel searched the vehicle and checked documents but did not return them, instead directing him to report to Police Station Larnoo the following day.
The complainant said that on March 27, he visited the police station where the SPO allegedly demanded ₹30,000 for releasing the documents. The amount was later reduced to ₹25,000 over a phone call and finally settled at ₹18,000.
Instead of paying the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB seeking legal action.
“On receipt of the complaint, a discreet verification was conducted which confirmed the demand,” an ACB official said.
Following verification, a case under 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.
During the investigation, a trap team was constituted which laid a successful trap and caught the accused red-handed while demanding and accepting the bribe amount, officials said.
“The accused was arrested on the spot and the bribe money was recovered from his possession in presence of independent witnesses,” the official added.
Subsequently, searches were conducted at the residential premises of the accused in the presence of Executive Magistrates and independent witnesses.
Further investigation in the case is underway, officials said.
