Officials using UPI to dodge ACB traps in Telangana
Corrupt officials in Telangana are using UPI apps to collect bribes, hoping to avoid Anti-Corruption Bureau traps. ACB says such methods fail, as raids are conducted only after collecting voice recordings, bank statements, and other solid evidence
Karimnagar: In order to avoid Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) traps, some corrupt officials are using advanced technology.
Instead of taking cash directly from victims, the officers are asking them to send the bribe amount through Unified Payments Interface (UPI), thinking they can escape ACB raids.
Usually, ACB sleuths trap officials while accepting currency notes coated with chemical powder from victims. Along with other proof, the fingerprints of officers on the currency notes are strong evidence for the ACB to prove the case in court.
To avoid that, officers are asking victims to send the bribe amount through UPI apps such as PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and others.
Taking more precautions, instead of their own mobile numbers linked to bank accounts, victims are being asked to forward the amount to the mobile numbers of private assistants.
Three such incidents took place in the state in the recent past — one each in Peddapalli, Mancherial, and Warangal.
Recently, ACB sleuths arrested Peddapalli mandal surveyor Pendyala Sunil and a private surveyor Rajender Reddy for taking a Rs 10,000 bribe from a farmer.
Sunil had demanded Rs 20,000 from the victim to survey his land and agreed to take Rs 10,000. Instead of accepting the cash directly, Sunil asked the complainant to send the amount to the phone number of private surveyor Rajender Reddy through PhonePe.
In another incident, Mancherial surveyor Manjula also asked a victim to send the bribe amount through UPI. A similar incident took place in Warangal.
Though corrupt officials believe they can avoid ACB traps by accepting bribes through UPI, they are wrong since ACB officials conduct raids only after collecting all evidence.
Besides recording the voice of officers who demand bribes, bank transaction details of both victims and officers are collected before arresting the accused.
Speaking to Telangana Today, Karimnagar ACB DSP P Vijay Kumar said that if an officer asks a complainant to send the bribe amount through UPI, they record the audio and video of the officer.
Later, the bank transaction statements of the complainant as well as the officer are collected. If the amount is transferred to others’ bank accounts instead of the officer’s, their bank transaction details are also gathered, he said.
They also collect the mobile tower location under which the phone signals were active at the time of conversation.
When asked if the officer could deny the allegation by claiming that his or her voice was manipulated, the DSP said it was not possible to deny it since the entire conversation takes place using the officer’s mobile number.
After collecting all evidence, a report is prepared and sent to the Director General of Police, ACB, Hyderabad, seeking permission to lay a trap. The case is registered under Section 7 (B) and 12.
After getting legal advisors’ opinions, raids are carried out. So, there is no question of the case being quashed in court, the DSP said.
