ACB traps put police corruption under scanner in Telangana

A series of ACB traps against police personnel in Telangana has put alleged bribery under the spotlight. Personnel from constable to inspector ranks have been caught or booked in separate cases involving investigations, arrests, bail conditions and other police procedures.

Hyderabad: A series of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) traps against police personnel across the State in recent months has put the spotlight on allegations of bribery within the uniformed force, with officers from the ranks of constable and sub-inspector to inspector being caught or booked in separate cases.

In the latest case at Chandanagar police station, a sub-inspector and a constable were caught allegedly accepting a Rs 75,000 bribe. The duo had allegedly demanded money from a complainant in connection with the investigation of a criminal case and filing of the chargesheet.

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The Chandanagar case follows several similar incidents in the city this year. Earlier in May, a Bowenpally sub-inspector and a constable were arrested for accepting a bribe to relax bail conditions and provide favourable police assistance in a criminal case.

In March, two Armed Reserve SIs working in Cybercrime PS of Malkajgiri Commissionerate were arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe in return for issuing a notice instead of arresting an accused in a cyber fraud case.

The pattern has also extended beyond Hyderabad, with officials also caught in Vikarabad and Warangal districts for bribery.

The recurring incidents point out that alleged corruption is not confined to a particular rank or policing unit, with the common point in several cases being the use of discretionary powers in investigations, arrests, bail-related procedures and case settlements for extracting money.

DGP CV Anand had warned that corruption would not be tolerated and said that personnel demanding or accepting bribes would face strict legal and disciplinary action.

With ACB traps repeatedly exposing alleged bribery at police stations, the challenge for the department seems to now be not merely nabbing individual offenders but also restoring public confidence in the police force.

Citizens can report corruption to ACB on its toll-free number 1064.