CBI registers FIR against SMC officials in bribery case

 Correspondent

Srinagar, June 22: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against officials of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), in connection with an alleged bribery case linked to the clearance of a contractor's bill and signing of an official agreement.

One of the accused has already been taken into CBI custody following a trap operation, the In-Charge Superintending Engineer has been asked to appear before the agency on June 24.

A CBI spokesperson said that the case stems from a complaint filed by a contractor whose firm had been awarded the work of installing a nine-metre high mast pole and a 200-watt high mast light at Saderbal Chowk in Srinagar in April 2025.

"The work was completed within the stipulated time and the bill was submitted to the department, but remained unprocessed as the agreement had not been signed by the concerned Executive Engineer," the spokesperson said.

he contractor alleged that when he met Executive Engineer Sajad Kawoosa on June 18, 2026, to pursue the matter, the officer demanded a bribe of Rs 10,000 for signing the agreement and facilitating the processing of the bill. "Unwilling to pay the alleged bribe, the contractor approached the CBI and submitted a written complaint seeking action against those involved," the spokesperson added.

"The complaint was subsequently marked for verification, during which the agency allegedly established a demand for a bribe of Rs 5,000 by Sajad Hussain Bhat, a Peon posted in the office of the Executive Engineer, Left River Works Division (LRWD), Srinagar Municipal Corporation," the spokesperson said.

"The verification report further indicated that the demand was allegedly made by the Peon in conspiracy with Executive Engineer Sajad Kawoosa and that the Executive Engineer had allegedly conveyed the demand through hand gestures," the spokesperson added.

Following verification, the CBI laid a trap on Friday and allegedly caught Sajad Hussain Bhat red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000, the spokesperson said, adding that the accused was immediately taken into custody.

The spokesperson further said that the CBI conducted searches at the residence of Sajad Kawoosa near Gurdwara Shaheed Bunga in the Bhagat Barzulla area of Srinagar.

"Based on the findings of the verification and trap proceedings, the CBI registered FIR No. RC1232026A0006 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended, read with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), against Sajad Kawoosa, Executive Engineer and In-Charge Superintending Engineer, SMC, and Sajad Hussain Bhat, Peon, SMC," the spokesperson said. He added that the investigation is continuing and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend the absconding officer.