Keesara bribery case: ACB catches Deputy Tahsildar, VRO and private individual over ₹2.5 lakh
Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught a Deputy Tahsildar, a Village Revenue Officer (VRO) and a private individual in a ₹2.5 lakh bribery case in Keesara Mandal of Medchal-Malkajgiri district on Thursday, October 15.
The Keesara bribery case involved an alleged demand for ₹5 lakh to remove agricultural properties from the prohibited properties list. According to the ACB, the properties belonged to the complainant’s mother and other family members. The accused Deputy Tahsildar, Amanaganti Sandeep Kumar Reddy, worked at the Tahsildar’s office in Keesara Mandal.
ACB officials alleged that he demanded ₹5 lakh from the complainant for processing and completing the removal of the properties. The request concerned the prohibited properties list under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908.
Keesara bribery case: ACB recovers ₹2.5 lakh
According to the ACB, Sandeep Kumar Reddy instructed private individual Kavali Balakrishna to collect the bribe on his behalf. Following those instructions, Balakrishna allegedly accepted ₹2.5 lakh from the complainant as part payment of the demanded amount.
Officials from the ACB’s Ranga Reddy Range caught Balakrishna while he allegedly received the money. The ACB subsequently recovered the ₹2.5 lakh bribe amount from Balakrishna at his instance.
Investigators also identified the alleged involvement of Village Revenue Officer Nannuri Vijay Kumar Reddy, who worked at the Keesara Tahsildar’s office. According to the bureau, Vijay Kumar Reddy had instigated Balakrishna to receive the money as instructed by the Deputy Tahsildar.
The allegations involved three individuals, including two revenue officials and a private person, in connection with the same bribe demand. The ACB initiated proceedings to produce the three accused before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases at Nampally in Hyderabad.
The authorities sought judicial remand for Deputy Tahsildar Sandeep Kumar Reddy, VRO Vijay Kumar Reddy and private individual Balakrishna. The alleged bribe demand concerned the removal of agricultural properties belonging to the complainant’s family from the prohibited properties list.
The ACB withheld the complainant’s identity for security reasons. Further investigation into the Keesara bribery case remained underway.