Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 19

India’s federal anti-corruption agency on Friday arrested two employees of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) while allegedly accepting a bribe and later carried out searches at the residence of a senior municipal official as part of an ongoing investigation, officials said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said the two employees were caught in a trap operation while allegedly receiving a bribe of 5,000 rupees.

According to officials, those arrested were identified as Sajad Hussain Bhat, an in-charge dealing assistant, and Javid Ahmad Ganie, a consolidated worker, both posted in the office of the Executive Engineer of the Left River Works Division of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.

The arrests were made during a planned operation after the agency received information regarding the alleged demand and acceptance of illegal gratification, officials said.

Following the arrests, CBI teams conducted searches at the residence of Sajad Ahmad Kawoosa in Srinagar’s Baghat Barzulla area.

Kawoosa currently serves as Executive Engineer and also holds additional charge as Superintending Engineer in the municipal corporation, according to officials.

The agency has not publicly disclosed the findings of the searches or detailed the nature of Kawoosa’s role in the investigation.

The operation comes months after Kawoosa was recognised by the Srinagar district administration for what officials described as distinguished public service and contributions to governance and service delivery.

The CBI said further investigation was underway.

Investigators are expected to examine official records and financial transactions linked to the case as they seek to determine whether the alleged bribery was part of a broader pattern of corruption within the department.

No formal statement was immediately available from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation regarding the arrests.

The agency has not yet announced whether additional officials are under investigation.