Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau arrested two Keesara police officers in a Rs. 5 lakh bribery case on Thursday. The accused included Inspector and SHO Arkapally Anjaneyulu and Sub-Inspector Dyapa Gyanender Reddy.
The case concerned a demand for money from a victim who had received station bail in a case. According to the ACB statement, the officers demanded money to stop further harassment of the victim and his friend.
Initially, the police officers allegedly demanded Rs. 10 lakh from the victim. However, they later agreed to settle the demand for Rs. 5 lakh, according to the ACB.
The victim approached the ACB directly after the alleged harassment continued. The complaint prompted ACB officials to plan an operation against the two police officers.
Meanwhile, the alleged harassment had continued for several days. The source said the accused had allegedly brought biryani and cool drinks while repeatedly troubling the victim.
ACB officials then tracked the alleged bribe transaction. On Wednesday midnight, SI Gyanender Reddy was on duty for the Ganesh immersion ceremony when the operation took place.
The ACB team caught Gyanender Reddy while he accepted Rs. 5 lakh in a car near Keesara Lake. Officials said the SI collected the money on instructions from Inspector Anjaneyulu.
The SI reportedly tried to escape after noticing the ACB officials. However, the officers caught him during the operation and arrested him.
Keesara police bribe operation leads to searches
Following the trap, ACB officials arrested both Anjaneyulu and Gyanender Reddy. The authorities planned to produce the two accused before the ACB Special Court in Nampally.
Separately, the ACB registered a case and began further investigation into the bribery allegations. Officials also conducted searches at Keesara Police Station.
The ACB team additionally searched the residences of the two accused officers. These searches followed the operation that exposed the alleged acceptance of the Rs. 5 lakh bribe.
The incident occurred at Keesara Police Station under the Malkajgiri Commissionerate. The case involved allegations against both the station house officer and the sub-inspector.
According to the ACB, the victim had complained after the alleged pressure from the police increased. The agency then arranged the trap based on information provided in the complaint.
The operation took place while Gyanender Reddy was performing duty connected with the Ganesh immersion ceremony. Investigators intercepted him near Keesara Lake during the alleged cash transaction.
The ACB said the SI accepted the money at the direction of Inspector Anjaneyulu. Officials subsequently arrested both officers and continued their investigation into the case.
The ACB has advised people to report demands for bribes by government employees. Citizens can contact the agency through its toll-free number, 1064.
The agency also said it would keep complainants’ details confidential. The investigation into the Keesara police bribe case remained underway after the arrests and searches.