Forest range officer, assistant caught taking Rs 15,000 bribe in Adilabad
The duo was caught when they demanded and accepted the bribe from a complainant in exchange for extending an official favour.
By Newsmeter Network
Adilabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday caught a Forest Range Officer and a Junior Assistant red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000 in Adilabad district.
Officials trapped by ACB
According to ACB officials, T Pranay, Forest Range Officer (FRO) of Boath Range, along with Junior Assistant S Parshuram, was apprehended at the FRO office in Boath.
The duo was caught when they demanded and accepted the bribe from a complainant in exchange for extending an official favour.
Bribe linked to pending payment
The accused allegedly sought the illegal gratification to clear a pending cheque of Rs 5.09 lakh. The payment was due to the complainant for supplying water under the Haritha Haram plantation programme implemented through the MGNREGS scheme.
Cash recovered during operation
ACB officials recovered the tainted bribe amount of Rs 15,000 from the possession of the Junior Assistant at the instance of the Forest Range Officer. Investigators stated that both officials misused their positions to obtain undue advantage.
Following the trap, both accused were taken into custody and later produced before the Special Judge for SPE and ACB cases in Karimnagar. The case is currently under investigation. The identity of the complainant has been withheld for security reasons.
ACB helpline for public
The ACB has urged citizens to report any instances of bribery by public servants by calling its toll-free helpline 1064.
Complaints can also be lodged via WhatsApp (9440446106) or through the agency’s official social media platforms. Authorities assured that the identity of the complainants will be kept confidential.
