Rs 15 lakh bribe to process bills: ACB catches Kukatpally Superintendent Chinna Reddy
B Praveen Kumar, working as a computer operator, was also caught. What is more surprising is that the bribe was being accepted and collected at the GHMC Zonal office.
By - Newsmeter Network
Hyderabad: It was another casual day at the Kukatpally Zonal Office of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) until the sleuths of the Anti-Corruption Bureau landed to close a trap on February 4 (Wednesday) morning.
Based on credible information, ACB planned a trap and caught Senior Superintendent Engineer of Kukatpally Zonal office, Podduturi Chinna Reddy, accepting a bribe of Rs 15 lakh, involving processing the complainant’s bills amounting to Rs 1.40 crore.
Bribe was being collected at the GHMC office premises
Another person, said to be the engineer’s aide, B Praveen Kumar, working as a computer operator, was also caught. What is more surprising is that the bribe was being accepted and collected at the GHMC Zonal office.
Locals react to arrests
Many residents, who are whistleblowers of the alleged civic negligence, are shocked over the arrest of the superintendent. “I was in talks with the officer to remove the hyacinth from the IDL lake in Kukatpally. He would often respond and be proactive at work. Shocked to hear about this side of the officer,” a resident of Kukatpally said without wanting to be identified.
The accused, Chinna Reddy, who comes across as a simple yet resourceful officer, was caught red-handed along with a computer operator accepting Rs 15 lakh in cash. The bribe was for doing an official favour, i.e, ‘for verifying the works executed by the complainant and for processing and forwarding the complainant’s bills amounting to Rs 1,40,00,000 to the Zonal Commissioner for approval.’
The tainted bribe amount of Rs 15 lakh was recovered. Both accused, Chinna Reddy and Praveen Kumar, were arrested and produced before the I Addl. Special Judge for SPE & ACB cases, Nampally, for judicial remand.
The case is under investigation. The details of the complainant are withheld for security reasons, said ACB in an official communication.
Call 1064 to report on government officers asking for bribes
In case a public servant is found to be asking for bribes, the public is requested to report the same by calling 1064, the toll-free number of ACB.
ACB Telangana can also be contacted through their social media platforms:
WhatsApp (9440446106),
Facebook (Telangana ACB),
X/formerly twitter (@Telangana ACB).
The QR code of Telangana ACB is on display prominently at all government offices for the public to contact them. The name and details of the victim/complainant will be kept secret.
