In a decisive move against corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has successfully apprehended a Grama Palana Officer in Bhadradri Kothagudem district. The official was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹15,000, intended to expedite a land registration process.
The arrested officer, identified as Banavath Srinivas Rao, 36, served as the Grama Palana Officer for the Pusugudem Revenue Cluster, operating under the Tahsildar’s Office in Mulakalapalli mandal. The ACB’s Khammam Range team executed the trap around 11:17 a.m. on October 27. Rao had initially demanded ₹20,000 from a citizen seeking property registration for 2 acres and 30 guntas of land in Vemukunta village. Following negotiations, he agreed to a reduced sum of ₹15,000.
Further inquiries revealed a pattern of illicit demands. Srinivas Rao had initially sought a total of ₹60,000 to finalize the land registration and issue the necessary land passbooks. He had already received ₹30,000 via UPI and an additional ₹10,000 in cash on October 22. The remaining ₹20,000 was then negotiated down to ₹15,000, which he accepted on Monday, leading directly to his arrest. The entire illicitly acquired amount was recovered from his possession.
Authorities confirmed that the accused deliberately engaged in dishonest conduct to secure personal financial gain. Following his arrest, he was presented before the Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases in Warangal. The investigation into this case is ongoing, and for their safety, the identity of the complainant remains protected.
The ACB is actively encouraging the public to come forward and report any instances of government officials demanding bribes. Citizens can use the toll-free helpline 1064 or reach out via WhatsApp at 9440446106. The ACB Telangana is also accessible on social media platforms like Facebook (Telangana ACB) and X (@TelanganaACB). All whistleblowers are guaranteed complete confidentiality by the authorities.