Three In ACB Net For Accepting Bribes

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today registered a case under Section 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), against Annaboina Rajeswara Rao, Motor Vehicle Driver, Corporate Office, Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL), for criminal misconduct.

Rao allegedly misused his official position for personal financial gain by engaging in corrupt and fraudulent practices between 2021 and 2024. He is said to have exploited his influence over internal administrative processes such as transfers, promotions, recruitments and Corporate Medical Board decisions.

The allegations include collecting bribes amounting to Rs 31,44,000 from various employees and job aspirants by making false promises to secure transfers, manipulate medical fitness outcomes, provide job placements and influence promotions.

These amounts were reportedly received through both cash and digital transactions, often using intermediaries.

Despite accepting the bribes, however, Rao failed to fulfill his promised commitments.

Rao was arrested today and produced before the Special Court for SPE & ACB Cases cum II Additional District & Sessions Judge at Warangal.

In another case, ACB sleuths on May 6 caught Gadhegoni Sudhakar, Superintendent, Office of the Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Praja Parishad, Mulugu district, red-handed at his office while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25,000 (Rs 20,000 for himself and Rs 5,000 for a colleague) from a complainant.

The bribe was allegedly demanded in exchange for preparing the salary bills for the complainant's medical leave period and submitting them to the District Treasury Office, Mulugu.

Earlier, Sanikonnu Soumya, Junior Assistant in the same office, had also demanded Rs 5,000 from the complainant for preparing the bills.

Both the accused are alleged to have acted dishonestly in the discharge of their public duties. The tainted amount of Rs 25,000 was recovered from the possession of Sudhakar.