Forest Officials Nabbed in Bribery Scandal

Two forest officials were apprehended by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau for allegedly accepting a Rs 3.5 lakh bribe. The officials demanded the bribe to avoid registering cases and disruption against a complainant's road project. The case is presently under investigation.

In a shocking revelation, two forest officials from Bhadradri Kothagudem district have been arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 3.5 lakh. The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) unveiled these details on Thursday, showcasing a blatant disregard for ethical practices within the forest department.

S Sujatha, the Forest Divisional Officer of Bhadrachalam, and B Krishna, the Deputy Range Officer of Tegada, reportedly demanded the bribe to refrain from registering legal cases against a road construction project initiated by the complainant. The ACB confirmed that the officials were caught red-handed during the illegal transaction at the Forest Divisional office.

Originally, the officials solicited Rs 10 lakh but reduced their demand to Rs 3.5 lakh after negotiations. The bribe was intended to secure immunity for the complainant against alleged environmental violations. Currently, the incident is under thorough investigation, highlighting the ongoing battle against corruption in public service.