ACB Catches Manuguru SI For Taking Bribe

The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday registered a criminal misconduct case and arrested Bathini Ranjith, a Sub-Inspector in the Manuguru police station in Bhadradri Kothagudem district, for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 40,000 from a complainant.

The officer was produced before the Special Judge for SPE and ACB cases at Warangal, and the matter is under investigation.

According to ACB sources, Ranjith allegedly demanded the payment as a "reward" after issuing notices under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) in Crime No 292/2025 at the Manuguru police station.

Section 35(3) of the BNSS governs the procedure when police believe arrest is not immediately necessary: instead of making an immediate arrest, police issue a written notice directing the person to appear before the investigating officer. Recent judicial guidance and commentary around Section 35(3) emphasise strict procedural safeguards - notices must clearly state the crime number and alleged offence and be personally served, and courts have been cautious about improper or electronic service. Legal experts say misuse of such notices for coercion or extraction of money would amount to a grave abuse of police power.

ACB officials said that details of the complainant had been withheld for security reasons; the probe would examine how the notice was issued and whether the alleged demand for cash was linked to official action in the FIR.

The agency is expected to file a detailed chargesheet after completing the preliminary enquiries and evidence collection.

The arrest adds to a series of recent ACB operations in Telangana targeting police personnel and public servants accused of corruption. The bureau's website lists multiple recent arrests and trap operations across districts, signalling intensified monitoring of on-duty misconduct. Observers say fast, transparent prosecutions in such cases are critical to restore public faith in policing, especially where procedural powers like Section 35(3) are involved.