- CBI Arrests J&K PWD Assistant Engineer for Allegedly Accepting Rs 30,000 Bribe
JAMMU, JULY 17: The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested an Assistant Engineer of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Works Department after allegedly catching him red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 for processing compensation related to a house damaged during the construction of a road under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana in Doda district.
According to a CBI spokesperson, the accused officer was posted with the Public Works Department and was associated with the implementation of PMGSY projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
The agency registered a case on July 16, 2026, following a complaint alleging that the complainant’s residential house had suffered damage during the execution of the Thathri-Kathawa PMGSY road project in Doda.
The complainant was reportedly entitled to compensation of nearly Rs 10 lakh for the damage caused to the property. However, the Assistant Engineer allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 as illegal gratification for processing the claim and facilitating the release of the compensation amount.
The CBI said that after negotiations, the accused officer agreed to accept Rs 30,000 from the complainant.
Acting on the complaint, the agency verified the allegations and laid a trap on July 16. The Assistant Engineer was allegedly caught while demanding and accepting the agreed bribe amount of Rs 30,000.
The accused was taken into custody following the operation. The bribe money was also recovered during the trap proceedings, officials said.
The case raises serious concerns over alleged corruption in the processing of compensation claims arising from public infrastructure projects. Such claims are intended to provide timely relief to families whose homes or property are affected during road construction and other development works.
Officials said the investigation is continuing to determine whether other individuals were involved and whether similar demands had been made in connection with compensation cases linked to the project.
The agency is also expected to examine relevant official records, compensation files and communication connected with the complainant’s claim as part of the investigation.
The CBI reiterated that the arrest followed a complaint-based trap and that further legal action would be taken in accordance with the evidence collected during the probe.