Corruption among government officials on rise in Telangana’s Karimnagar

Compared to other departments, corruption is high in revenue and police; a total of 19 revenue officials trapped in connection with 10 cases during the last four years

Karimnagar: Though it is nothing new in government officials demanding bribes to do work, corruption among officials appears to have gone up in the recent past. Five officials being nabbed within 40 days is a classic example of how corruption among officials has gone up. The increased reporting of cases to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) too is being cited as a reason.

Three officials, including two Tahsildars, were trapped by the Anti-Corruption Bureau. Though the officials of 13 government departments which have direct connection with the public have frequently been involved in corruption, the rate is high in Revenue and Police Departments.

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In a fresh incident, ACB sleuths trapped Shankarapatnam Deputy Tahsildar Mallesham while accepting Rs 6,000 bribe from one Naveen Rao at his office on Saturday. The official demanded the bribe for NALA conversion of 2.25 guntas of land owned by one Naveen Rao from Eradapalli.

On December 16, Metpalli Deputy Forest Range Officer, Mohammad Hafeezuddin was trapped while accepting Rs 4,500 from a tractor driver. ACB police carried out raids in Anthergoan Tahsildar office in Peddapalli mandal on November 19 and detained Tahsildar Vayyapu Ramesh while taking Rs 12,000 bribe from a tractor owner Alakunta Mahesh. Another official Sridhar escaped after seeing ACB sleuths.

In another incident, Peddapalli Irrigation AE Narsinga Rao was trapped by ACB while accepting Rs 20,000 bribe from a contractor on November 25. Officials belonging to revenue, police, transport, electricity, Panchayat Raj, irrigation, Commercial Tax, municipal, medical and health and others have frequently been involved in corruption charges.

When compared to other departments, the corruption is high in revenue and police. A total of 19 revenue officials were trapped in connection with 10 cases during the last four years. Meanwhile, 10 police officials were trapped by ACB in seven cases.

The Panchayat Raj Department stood in third place with six cases (seven arrests) followed by Municipal Administration with four and the Registrations Department with two.

A case was registered in each department of electricity, weights and measurements, survey and land records, medical and health, marketing, fisheries, town planning and industries. A total of 61 officials were trapped in connection with 39 cases from 2021 to 2014. So far this year, a total of 20 officials were arrested in connection with 12 ACB cases.