Early Times Report
Jammu, July 31: In a significant development in an ongoing corruption investigation, the Special Judge for Anti-Corruption CBI Cases, Jammu Pawan Sharma, has granted interim bail to Sub-Inspector Mohd Bashir, who is facing allegations of accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000.
The bail was granted by Special Judge CBI Cases Jammu Pawan Kumar Sharma in a petition filed under Section 482 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Bashir, currently posted at Police Station R.S. Pura, had sought protection from arrest in connection with FIR No. RC0042025A0009 dated July 4, 2025, registered under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Bashir allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹50,000 from a complainant in exchange for submitting a favorable police report for the complainant’s brother-in-law, Sarpanch Gurdyal Singh. A trap was laid on July 4, during which Bashir allegedly accepted the bribe but fled the police station with the trap money. Subsequent investigations led to the recovery of Bashir’s uniform from the residence of an associate, and a sodium carbonate test confirmed bribe traces. The CBI, however, had been unable to apprehend the officer for over 20 days, prompting the court to consider the bail request.
While granting interim bail, Special Judge CBI Pawan Sharma observed that while recognizing the seriousness of the charges, the court noted that Bashir had already submitted an incriminating report against the accused before the alleged bribe was taken — weakening the motive for the bribe demand. The court also took into account the applicant’s age (59) and impending retirement, suggesting that an arrest at this stage would have serious moral and financial consequences.
The court ruled in favor of interim bail, citing relevant precedents, including Sansar Singh vs. CBI (2025) and Siddharam Satlingappa Mhetre vs. State of Maharashtra (2010). Importantly, the CBI’s Deputy SP Sunil Meena stated that the agency had no objection to bail if Bashir agreed to cooperate with the investigation with the conditions that applicant shall appear before the Investigating Officer between 10 AM and 5 PM, no threats or inducements to witnesses. Court also restricted applicant to travel outside Jammu & Kashmir. (JNF) |
