Onlykashmir.in News Desk
The Central Bureau of Investigation has struck against corruption within the Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Department, arresting a Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer (SDAO) along with an Agricultural Extension Assistant (AEA) and a private individual in a bribery case that has once again put the spotlight on graft within government departments tasked with delivering welfare schemes to farmers.
The case was formally registered by the CBI on September 19, 2026, after a complainant approached the agency alleging that the SDAO had demanded a bribe of ₹35,000 in exchange for releasing a subsidy under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), a flagship Centre-backed scheme aimed at modernising agriculture and improving farmer incomes across Jammu and Kashmir.
According to CBI officials, the accused officer allegedly instructed the complainant not to hand over the money directly to him, but instead to route it through either the Agricultural Extension Assistant or a private middleman, a tactic often used by corrupt officials to create a layer of distance between themselves and the actual exchange of the bribe.
Acting swiftly on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and caught the Agricultural Extension Assistant and the private individual red-handed while they were allegedly demanding and accepting ₹15,000 from the complainant. Following this, the CBI moved to arrest the Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer from his residence, completing the arrest of all three accused in the case.
The arrest underscores a persistent challenge facing Jammu and Kashmir’s administrative machinery: ensuring that subsidies and welfare benefits meant for farmers actually reach them without being held hostage to bribery. The HADP scheme, under which the alleged bribe was demanded, was designed specifically to support farmers through financial assistance for modern agricultural practices, making any corruption within its disbursement process particularly damaging to the scheme’s intended beneficiaries.
The CBI has stated that further investigation into the case is currently underway, and more details, including whether the corruption extends beyond the three accused already arrested, are expected to emerge as the probe progresses. The case adds to a string of anti-corruption actions in the region, as central agencies continue to tighten scrutiny over how government schemes are implemented on the ground in Jammu and Kashmir.
