Hyderabad: Anti-Corruption Bureau officials of the Khammam Range caught two forest officials in a forest officials bribery case while they were allegedly accepting Rs 3.5 lakh from a contractor in Bhadrachalam on Thursday.
The accused were identified as Santhapuri Sujatha, Forest Divisional Officer of Bhadrachalam, and Bhukya Krishna, Deputy Range Officer of Tegada. Krishna also held additional charge as Forest Range Officer of Charla in Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
According to ACB officials, the accused allegedly demanded the bribe from a contractor for not registering cases related to damage to forest trees during the laying of a 2-km BT road from Pusuguppa village in Charla mandal to the Chhattisgarh border.
Officials said the road work was completed in 2025. They also alleged that the accused assured the complainant that they would not interfere in his present and future works.
Forest officials bribery case involved reduced demand
ACB officials stated that the accused initially demanded Rs 10 lakh from the complainant. However, they later reduced the amount to Rs 3.5 lakh after negotiations.
The ACB conducted the trap operation at the Forest Divisional Office in Bhadrachalam. During the operation, officials recovered the tainted cash from Bhukya Krishna at his instance.
Authorities arrested both officials following the trap. They are being produced before the Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases in Warangal.
Forest officials bribery case under investigation
The Anti-Corruption Bureau said the investigation into the forest officials bribery case was continuing. Officials also withheld the identity of the complainant for security reasons.
The alleged bribery case relates to official permissions and enforcement actions connected to road construction works near forest areas in Charla mandal.