Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested a Cyber crime inspector attached to the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau on allegations of demanding and accepting a bribe in connection with a cyber fraud investigation.
ACB officials identified the accused as Bathula Mahendar, an Inspector of Police. The agency booked him on charges of criminal misconduct and corruption.
According to investigators, Mahendar allegedly demanded Rs.9 lakh from a complainant. In return, he allegedly offered not to implicate the complainant’s family members and friends in a cyber fraud case.
The ACB alleged that the officer had already collected Rs.5 lakh as part payment before the latest operation.
On Friday, Mahendar allegedly demanded the remaining Rs.4 lakh and threatened the complainant at his office. Following a complaint, the ACB Central Investigation Unit launched a trap operation and apprehended him.
Cyber crime inspector faces corruption probe
After the arrest, ACB officials searched the officer’s residence. During the searches, investigators recovered Rs.13 lakh in unaccounted cash, gold ornaments and property-related documents.
Officials said they are verifying whether the assets are disproportionate to the officer’s known sources of income.
The ACB will produce the accused before the Special Court for ACB Cases in Nampally and seek judicial remand.
Meanwhile, investigators have continued inquiries into the case. Authorities withheld the complainant’s identity for security reasons.
INSPECTOR OF POLICE, CYBER CRIME PS, TG CYBER SECURITY BUREAU IN ACB NET#Case of Misconduct against Bathula Mahendar, Inspector, TG Cyber Security Bureau, Hyderabad as the AO demanded the bribe of ₹ 9 lakh, accepted ₹ 5 lakh from the complainant (full details in PRESS NOTE) pic.twitter.com/reL9mwgUCj
— ACB Telangana (@TelanganaACB) May 30, 2026