Suryapet Ground Water Officer, Data Entry Operator Arrested for Rs 20,000 Bribe

On Wednesday, the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested two government department employees, including a District Ground Water Officer, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs. 20,000 in Suryapet district. The illicit payment was allegedly demanded in exchange for granting permission for a borewell drilling rig.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Megavath Balu, who serves as the District Ground Water Officer in Suryapet district, and Kosanoju Venkateshwarlu, a Data Entry Operator appointed on an outsourcing basis at the office of the Ground Water department in the district.

According to the ACB, Balu demanded the bribe of Rs. 20,000 through Venkateshwarlu in exchange for doing an official favour for the complainant. The money was demanded to secure permission for the complainant's borewell drilling rig. Additionally, the officials allegedly promised not to impose unnecessary fines on the rig or seize the equipment.

Following the complaint, ACB sleuths conducted an operation on Wednesday. The bribe amount of Rs. 20,000 was successfully recovered from the possession of the outsourced Data Entry Operator, Venkateshwarlu.

ACB officials stated that both Balu and Venkateshwarlu performed their official duties dishonestly to obtain an undue advantage. Following the recovery of the cash, both accused were arrested by the agency.

The officials subsequently produced the two arrested persons before the special court for ACB cases. After the presentation, the court remanded both Megavath Balu and Kosanoju Venkateshwarlu to judicial custody.

The details of the complainant have been withheld by the Anti-Corruption Bureau officials for security reasons.