Hyderabad: A routine municipal procedure turned into a bribery scandal on Thursday when Telangana’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested two Nirmal municipal staff for allegedly demanding a ₹6,000 bribe from a local resident.
Revenue Inspector Gaikwad Santhosh Kumar and outsourcing employee Md. Shoib were caught in the act, officials said, after the ACB laid a trap based on a citizen’s complaint. The two allegedly demanded the money to conduct a simple house assessment and to issue a house number for a new property—tasks that should have been provided free of charge under municipal norms.
ACB officials said the sting operation underscored the bureau’s commitment to cracking down on such everyday corruption that erodes public trust in civic services. The case highlighted a disturbing misuse of authority by municipal staff, exploiting routine processes to line their own pockets.
Authorities urged citizens who encounter similar demands to come forward and report the matter immediately. Complaints can be lodged via the bureau’s toll-free number 1064, on WhatsApp at 94404 46106, through the ACB’s official Facebook page, or on its website at acb.telangana.gov.in.
Officials assured residents that every complaint would be handled in strict confidence, urging the public to play an active role in keeping their local governance free from corruption.
