ACB catches Narasapuram forest officer taking Rs 4 lakh bribe from sawmill owner

Vijayawada: A Forest Section Officer posted in Narasapuram and holding additional charge of Bhimavaram in West Godavari district was caught red-handed by the Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Monday while allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 4 lakh from a sawmill owner.

The accused officer, identified as Sadu Suresh Kumar, was arrested and is being produced before the ACB Court in Rajahmundry.

Bribe demand to allow sawmill operations

According to the ACB, the case was registered following a complaint by Bajinki Dhanunjaya Appa Rao, a resident of Pennada village in Palakoderu mandal, West Godavari district.

The complainant runs ‘Vijaya Durga Saw Mill’ in the name of his wife at Pennada village. Recently, a farmer from KP Palem village in Mogaltur mandal brought a teakwood log grown in his agricultural field to the sawmill for cutting.

As it was a single log, the complainant cut it into pieces at the farmer’s request. While the farmer was transporting the cut teakwood pieces in a Bolero vehicle, forest officials from Bhimavaram intercepted the vehicle and seized both the vehicle and the wood.

Subsequently, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Forest Ranger and Sadu Suresh Kumar, along with their staff, visited the sawmill and halted its operations, alleging that the teakwood had been cut without prior permission from the Forest Department.

The complainant was later summoned to the DFO office in Bhimavaram, where Sadu Suresh Kumar allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh to allow the sawmill to resume operations and to avoid seizure of the unit. The amount was later reduced to Rs 4 lakh.

ACB trap and arrest

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the ACB and lodged a formal complaint. Acting on the information, ACB officials laid a trap.

On February 24, the ACB caught the Forest Section Officer red-handed while he was allegedly demanding and accepting Rs 4 lakh from the complainant at his residence. He was immediately taken into custody.

Searches are currently underway at the accused officer’s residence and office premises.

Career background of the accused

According to officials, Sadu Suresh Kumar joined the Forest Department in 2005 as an Office Subordinate. He was promoted as a typist in 2011 and later elevated to the post of Section Officer in 2016.

During his service, he worked in Eluru, Kannapuram, Chintalapudi and Narasapuram. He is presently serving in the Narasapuram Forest Range and is also holding additional charge of the Bhimavaram area.

ACB appeal to public

The Anti-Corruption Bureau has urged citizens to report instances of corruption in government departments to their nearest ACB office.

Complaints can also be lodged through the toll-free number 1064, mobile number 94404 40057 or via email at complaints-acb@ap.gov.in.

The agency assured that the identity of informants would be kept confidential.