The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau allegedly caught Keesara police station sub-inspector Gnanender Reddy accepting Rs 5 lakh from a complainant in connection with a Public Distribution System rice smuggling case, with the operation taking place on Wednesday night.
According to the ACB account reported by Telangana Today, the police official had allegedly demanded money from the complainant, promising to help him in the case and prevent further harassment at the police station. The alleged payment was made after the complainant approached the anti-corruption agency.
The initial demand was reportedly Rs 8 lakh and was later reduced to Rs 6 lakh. The complainant ultimately arranged Rs 5 lakh, which he handed over to Reddy. ACB officials then trapped the sub-inspector while he was sitting in a car and allegedly receiving the cash.
The case also names Keesara inspector Arkepally Anjaneyulu, who was booked for alleged involvement in the demand for money. Both the inspector and the sub-inspector were arrested in connection with the bribery case, according to the report.
Following the trap, ACB officials conducted searches at the Keesara police station and other premises as part of the investigation. The searches and arrests place the conduct of the police station under scrutiny while the agency examines the alleged demand, the role of the two officers and the circumstances surrounding the PDS rice case.
The alleged transaction is linked to a case involving the smuggling of PDS rice. The Public Distribution System is administered through government channels intended to move subsidised foodgrains to eligible beneficiaries, making police handling of alleged diversion or smuggling cases a significant administrative responsibility.
The report does not establish the outcome of the underlying rice-smuggling case or indicate whether any other individuals have been charged in connection with it. The ACB investigation into the alleged bribery and the officers’ roles remains underway.
