ACB Arrests Bhanapuram Panchayat Secretary for Accepting Rs 25,000 Bribe in Khammam

The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday arrested Thammisetty Suresh, the Panchayat Secretary of Bhanapuram Gram Panchayat, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000. The arrest took place near the Rythu Vedika of Mudigonda Mandal in Khammam district, where Suresh was caught red-handed by the agency's sleuths.

According to the ACB, the Panchayat Secretary demanded the bribe of Rs 25,000 from a local complainant in exchange for performing an official favor. The official favor involved the processing and granting of building permission, along with the allotment of a house number for a property belonging to the complainant.

The property in question is a one-room sheet-roofed house that the complainant is currently constructing. This construction is taking place on a house site measuring five kuntas, located in Bhanapuram village.

To secure the necessary building permission and the official house number allotment, Suresh allegedly insisted on the payment of Rs 25,000. This led to the ACB setting up a trap on Saturday near the Rythu Vedika of Mudigonda Mandal, where the transaction was scheduled to take place.

During the operation, the ACB sleuths caught Suresh red-handed at the spot as he accepted the bribe money from the complainant. The entire tainted bribe amount of Rs 25,000 was successfully recovered from the possession of the accused Panchayat Secretary by the investigating team.

Following the successful trap and the recovery of the cash, the ACB registered a corruption case against Suresh. The agency has initiated a formal investigation into the matter to gather further evidence and proceed with legal action against the public servant.

Meanwhile, the authorities have decided to withhold the specific details and identity of the complainant. The ACB stated that this measure was taken to ensure the security and safety of the individual who reported the bribery demand.