ACB arrests Mulugu DEO and Sangareddy panchayat secretary for taking bribes

Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials on Monday carried out two successful trap operations in Telangana, apprehending a district education officer in Mulugu and a panchayat secretary in Sangareddy for accepting bribes in separate incidents.

Mulugu DEO demands bribe to reinstate teacher

In the first case, Mulugu district education officer (DEO) Panini was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000 from a government school teacher. The teacher had returned after a three-month personal leave and approached the DEO for permission to rejoin duty.

Instead of processing the request officially, the DEO allegedly demanded a bribe. Based on a complaint, the ACB laid a trap and caught Panini in the act. Junior Assistant Dilip was also taken into custody for his involvement. Both are being presented before the ACB Special Court.

Sangareddy panchayat secretary held for Rs 8,000 bribe

In a separate incident, Patlolla Nagalaxmi, serving as panchayat secretary (Grade-III) of Budhera Grama Panchayat, Munipally Mandal in Sangareddy, was caught by ACB officials while taking a bribe of Rs 8,000.

The bribe was allegedly demanded for issuing permission to establish a water servicing centre shed and for allotting a house number to the complainant’s open plot. The trap was laid at the Budhera Gram Panchayat office, and the tainted cash was recovered from her possession.

Officials to face court proceedings

Both accused government officials have been arrested and will be produced before the respective ACB special courts in Nampally, Hyderabad. ACB authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing and emphasised that the identities of the complainants are being kept confidential for security reasons.