Mancherial: ACB officials from Adilabad caught Panchayat Secretary J. Varalaxmi while accepting a Rs. 13,000 bribe. She allegedly demanded the money to grant house construction permission and allot a house number.
Varalaxmi serves as Panchayat Secretary of Lingayipalli village in Jannaram mandal, Mancherial district. According to the ACB, she initially demanded Rs. 20,000 from the complainant.
Following negotiations, she agreed to accept Rs. 13,000. She then instructed the complainant to transfer the amount through PhonePe instead of paying it in cash.
The complainant transferred Rs. 13,000 to the PhonePe account of another Secretary, Lavanya. The ACB recorded the demand and payment instructions as evidence during the operation.
Panchayat secretary bribe case leads to arrest
The ACB arrested Varalaxmi after confirming the bribe transaction. Officials produced her before the Special Judge for SPE & ACB Cases in Karimnagar.
The case remains under investigation. The ACB withheld the complainant’s identity for security reasons.
The alleged bribe related to permission for constructing a house and allotting a house number. The ACB is continuing its investigation into the transaction and the role of those involved.