Hyderabad: In a sweeping crackdown, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has exposed a widespread bribery network involving several government employees across Suryapet district.
After receiving multiple complaints, the ACB ramped up its operations. Officials reportedly refused to perform basic duties unless they received bribes. Moreover, several of them have now turned to digital methods, including PhonePe, Google Pay, and e-commerce transactions, to collect illegal payments.
In Kodad, forest beat officer Anantula Venkanna demanded ₹50,000 for a permit and accepted ₹20,000 before ACB officials arrested him. In Palakeedu mandal, panchayat secretary Injamoory Venkayya took ₹15,000 from Indiramma housing beneficiaries. Similarly, Karnati Vijetha Reddy, a Dharani operator at the Huzurnagar tehsildar’s office, accepted ₹12,000 of a ₹20,000 demand before getting caught.
Meanwhile, panchayat secretary Anantula Satish Kumar accepted ₹8,000 after demanding ₹15,000 for an NOC. ACB teams apprehended assistant executive engineer Islavath Vinod in Sheetal Thanda, Chilkur mandal, while he received ₹1 lakh in bribe money.
In a high-profile case, Suryapet CI Veera Raghava and DSP Parthasarathy negotiated a ₹16 lakh bribe after initially demanding ₹25 lakh from a scanning center operator. In Tirumalagiri, SI V. Suresh and constable S. Nagaraju took ₹70,000 in a PDS rice case. Additionally, Chintalapalem SI Anthireddy was caught with ₹10,000 he collected from a trader from Palnadu district in Andhra Pradesh.
Departments across revenue, police, and engineering under ACB lens
The corruption trail runs deep across revenue, panchayat raj, municipal, and engineering wings. Revenue officials allegedly demand bribes for issuing caste, income, and land-related certificates. Citizens also face extortion for basic services like building permits and trade licenses.
Moreover, officers in Roads and Buildings, Irrigation, and Treasury departments allegedly operate on a fixed commission basis. In the labour department, even compensation for deceased workers reportedly involves illicit payments. Citizens have also complained about RTO agents and document writers working alongside sub-registrars to demand bribes.
Disturbingly, police officials have been implicated as well. Locals accused them of accepting money for station bail, land settlements, and informal dispute resolutions.
However, public awareness is rising. Thanks to social media and greater legal knowledge, more victims are approaching the ACB. Officials urge citizens to report corruption directly via the toll-free number 1046.
