Panchayat secretary arrested for accepting Rs 13,000 bribe in Mancherial

The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested a Panchayat secretary in Mancherial for allegedly accepting a Rs 13,000 bribe from a person seeking permission to construct a house. The official was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe through a digital payment application.

Mancherial: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials arrested a Panchayat secretary on charges of accepting a bribe of Rs 13,000 from a person to give permission for construction of a new house at Lingayipalli village in Jannaram mandal on Friday.

Adilabad ACB DSP G Madhu said that J Varalaxmi was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe through a digital payment application. They laid a trap and arrested her for accepting the bribe.

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The ACB officials said that Varalaxmi reportedly harassed the complainant, who applied for permission, demanding a bribe of Rs 20,000. She agreed to accept Rs 13,000.

Accepting bribes through digital payment applications such as PhonePe and GPay is also a crime. The public were requested to contact the toll-free number of the ACB, 1064, to take action as per law. ACB Telangana can also be contacted through social media platforms WhatsApp (9440446106), Facebook (Telangana ACB), and X, formerly Twitter (@Telangana ACB).