Deputy Forest Range Officer from Jagtial in ACB net

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) apprehended Mohammad Hafeezuddin, a Deputy Forest Range Officer (DFRO) from Metpally after catching him red-handed accepting a bribe.

The officer, aged 51, was in charge of Kathalapur mandal in Jagtial district and was arrested at his rented residence in Venkatraopet, Metpally town, for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹4,500. “The bribe was allegedly solicited from a complainant as a reward for issuing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to permit the transportation of mango wood from Ippalapalli village in Jagtial district to Kamareddy town,” said a release from the bureau.

Acting on the complaint, the ACB laid a trap and recovered the bribe money from the possession of the accused officer. A chemical test conducted on the officer’s fingers yielded positive results, confirming the exchange of money. Following the operation, the accused officer was taken into custody and is being produced before the Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases in Karimnagar.

Citizens are encouraged to report instances of bribery by contacting the ACB’s toll-free helpline, 1064. The ACB assures that the identity of whistle-blowers will remain confidential.

Published - December 16, 2024 07:08 pm IST