A busy year for ACB sleuths as 170 caught across Telangana in 2024
Registers more than half a dozen disproportionate assets cases against officials during the year
Hyderabad: The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau caught around 170 persons in anti-bribery ambushes across the State in 2024.
Officials working in the Revenue, Police, Panchayat Raj and Stamps & Registration Department were in high numbers compared to other government departments. The ACB also registered more than half a dozen disproportionate assets (DA) cases against officials during the year. About 10 persons who were arrested for bribery were convicted and sent to jail by the courts in 2024.
In the present year, a total of 31 police personnel from the rank of constable to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) were among those caught red-handed while accepting bribe from common people. Also 19 officials of the Revenue Department, 13 of Registration Department and 24 officials of Panchayat Raj Department were caught by the ACB for demanding and accepting bribes.
Among those caught for allegedly asking bribes from the people in the city are Police Circle Inspector and a Sub-Inspector of Kushaiguda police station who were caught in May end for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 3 lakh to close a criminal case. The Inspector of Suraram police station was caught when he demanded a bribe of Rs 5 lakh and got trapped by ACB when accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh.
An Inspector of Hyderabad CCS was caught when he demanded Rs 15 lakh and accepted a bribe of Rs 3 lakh although he had already accepted Rs 5 lakh in the case earlier. A Sub-Inspector of police of Madhapur police station was caught red-handed when he accepted a bribe of Rs 30,000 through a constable. Another constable working in Meerpet police station was caught when he sought and accepted a bribe of Rs 10,000.
Extortion by cops
The highlight of the year in police circles is the extortion case by three policemen of Chaitanyapuri police station. The trio had threatened and extorted Rs 5 lakh from a man with the help of four private persons. The man was involved in a case and as he was not attending court non-bailable warrants were issued against him. The constables had confined the man illegally and collected the amount so as not to arrest him in the case.
In the Sangareddy district, a police Inspector who was under suspension in a case was arrested by the ACB when he demanded Rs 1.5 crore bribe from a builder to help in connection with some disputes and previous cases registered against the realtor. The inspector was caught when he demanded and accepted Rs 5 lakh bribe as part payment of the total amount of Rs 1.5 crore.
The ACB during the year identified government officials who were allegedly involved in corrupt activities and amassed huge wealth illegally. At least eight officials working in different departments were probed by the ACB for having assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
Ex-HMDA Director big fish
Former Director HMDA, Shiva Balakrishna, was a big fish caught by the ACB. The ACB during the searches at the house of the former HMDA Director found documents pertaining to 214 acres of agriculture land, 29 plots, seven flats and a villa. Top branded watches such as Rolex, Fossil, Tissot, Movado, Tommy Hilfiger, Rado and Armani were seized by the ACB. This apart from 31 iPhones, tabs and gold ornaments were found in the house. The total market value of the property is estimated to be around Rs 250 crore.
The ACB recently registered a DA case against Assistant Executive Engineer of Irrigation Department, who was arrested in a bribery case in May. The officials found that the official Herur Nikesh Kumar, amassed properties worth Rs 17.73 crore. The properties included house plots, agriculture land, flats, commercial spaces and gold ornaments. The market value of the property is around Rs 100 crore. The ACB also registered a DA case against an ACP working in Hyderabad CCS and found he had allegedly amassed properties worth Rs 3.95 crore illegally. The ACB conducted searches at the houses of the relatives of the officials and friends. Documents pertaining to properties in the city and elsewhere were recovered with him.
12 convictions
The ACB court had convicted 12 officials who were caught by the ACB in different corruption cases earlier. The officials were convicted and sentenced to jail term for a period between one and four years. The officials of the Revenue Department were not far behind in graft cases. The Tahsildar, Shamirpet mandal landed in ACB net when he demanded a bribe of Rs 20 lakh. He was caught when he accepted the amount of Rs 10 lakh. In fact, the official took a cheque for Rs 20 lakh as guarantee from the complainant for the bribe amount.
In the Commercial Taxes Department, the Deputy Commercial Tax Officer, Panjagutta circle was caught when he demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a businessman for showing official favour. While in the Sub Registrar office, Doodhbowli in the city, the sub registrar , landed in the ACB trap when demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 2 lakh from a person for doing official work.
