The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has apprehended an inspector from the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) on charges of demanding a bribe of Rs 9 lakh and accepting Rs 5 lakh as partial payment to protect the complainant's family from implication in a cybercrime case.
Arrest and Modus Operandi
Bathula Mahendar, an inspector with TGCSB in Hyderabad, was taken into custody by the ACB's central investigation unit (CIU) at his office in Nampally on Saturday. According to ACB officials, Mahendar allegedly demanded Rs 9 lakh from the complainant to prevent the implication of his family members and friends in a cyber fraud case registered at TGCSB's Hyderabad police station. The officer had already accepted Rs 5 lakh in cash as a partial payment.
Further Demands and Arrest
On Saturday, the accused inspector again demanded the remaining Rs 4 lakh and threatened the complainant. Following this threat, the ACB team arrested Mahendar from his office. Searches conducted at his residence in the city led to the seizure of Rs 13 lakh in unaccounted cash, gold ornaments, and several property documents. The ACB stated that further verification of the inspector's assets is ongoing.
Legal Proceedings
The accused officer has been arrested and will be produced before the additional special judge for SPE and ACB cases in Nampally for judicial remand. Due to the ongoing investigation, the ACB has withheld the complainant's details for security reasons.
Public Appeal
The ACB has urged the public to report any demands for bribes by public servants through its toll-free number '1064'. The bureau can also be contacted via WhatsApp (9440446106), Facebook (Telangana ACB), and X (@Telangana ACB). It assured that the name and details of the victim or complainant would remain confidential.
