ACB Arrests Kadapa Deputy Tahsildar in Bribery Sting Operation
In a significant crackdown on corruption, sleuths from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) apprehended Vadla Nagendra Kumar Babu, a deputy tahsildar stationed at the Pulivendula Revenue Divisional Office in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh. The arrest occurred on Friday after he was caught red-handed demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000.
Complaint Leads to Legal Action
The case originated from a formal complaint filed by M Karimullah, a resident of Kumaarakalva village in Chakrayapeta. Following this, ACB officials in Kadapa registered a case under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, against Babu. The charges stem from his alleged demand for the bribe in exchange for processing a revenue file.
Details of the Land Dispute
According to official information, the case revolves around two parcels of land: 34.86 cents in Survey Number 72 of Yerrabommpalli village and 0.97 cents in Survey Number 165 of Kumaarakalva village, both located in Chakrayapeta mandal. These lands are registered in the name of the Khadreeya mosque and have been declared as Inam lands. However, they are reportedly encroached upon, leading to a prolonged dispute.
Background of the Complaint
Karimullah submitted his complaint through the Public Grievance Redressal System (PGRS) after multiple unsuccessful attempts by revenue authorities to free the illegally grabbed land and remove the encroachers' names from official records. Subsequently, the accused deputy tahsildar demanded Rs 10,000 to process the file, secure the signature of the Pulivendula RDO, and forward it to the Chakrayapeta tahsildar for further action.
ACB's Swift Response
Unwilling to comply with the bribe demand, Karimullah approached the ACB, which orchestrated a sting operation. On Friday, officials caught Babu in the act of demanding and accepting the bribe at his office. Following the arrest, searches were conducted at both his residential and office premises as part of the investigation.
The arrested official was later produced before the ACB magistrate in Kurnool, marking a decisive step in the ongoing efforts to combat corruption in the region.
