The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught a power utility assistant engineer allegedly accepting a ₹1.20 lakh bribe in Hyderabad. Officials conducted the operation on Thursday after receiving a complaint about the alleged demand. The accused, Pandala Sandhaya Rakesh, worked as an assistant engineer at Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL). He served in the Madannapet Section under the Santosh Nagar Sub-Division. According to the ACB, Rakesh allegedly demanded money from a complainant to approve applications for six new electricity meters. The complainant reportedly needed replacement meters after the original meters went missing. Investigators said the engineer allegedly sought payment in exchange for processing the pending applications. Following the complaint, the bureau arranged a trap to catch him during the alleged transaction. The operation resulted in his detention and the recovery of the suspected bribe amount. The ACB has initiated further proceedings to establish the facts and examine the allegations against the engineer.
ACB Sets Trap After Receiving Bribery Complaint
According to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the complainant approached officials after the engineer allegedly demanded ₹1.20 lakh. The money was reportedly linked to approving online applications for six new electricity meters. The complainant needed the meters because the previous ones had reportedly gone missing. Investigators from the ACB’s City Range-II responded to the complaint and planned a trap operation. Officials then caught Rakesh while he was allegedly accepting the money on Thursday. The bureau confirmed that its team recovered the suspected bribe amount from his possession. The operation formed part of the agency’s efforts to investigate alleged corruption involving public officials. Authorities will examine the complaint and other available evidence as the investigation progresses. The allegations concern the approval of electricity meter applications, a process handled through the power utility’s official procedures. The ACB has accused the engineer of seeking an undue advantage in exchange for performing his official duties. Further findings will depend on the evidence collected during the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
The alleged bribery case revolves around applications for six new electricity meters in Hyderabad. According to investigators, the complainant sought replacement meters after the earlier meters went missing. The applications required approval through the utility’s online system. The ACB alleged that Rakesh demanded ₹1.20 lakh to approve those applications. Officials have not established the allegations through a final court judgment at this stage. The bureau stated that the engineer allegedly used his official position to seek money from the complainant. Public utility officials handle essential services, including electricity connections and meter-related requests. Alleged demands for illegal payments can create additional difficulties for consumers seeking routine services. In this case, the ACB intervened after receiving information about the alleged demand. Its trap operation aimed to catch the engineer during the suspected exchange. Investigators will now examine the circumstances surrounding the applications and the alleged payment. The findings may help establish the sequence of events and determine the next steps in the case.
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Engineer Produced Before Special Court in Nampally
Following the trap operation, the ACB took legal action against the accused engineer. The bureau produced Pandala Sandhaya Rakesh before the Principal Special Judge for Special Police Establishment and Anti-Corruption Bureau cases. The court is located in Nampally, Hyderabad. According to the information provided by the bureau, the court remanded him to judicial custody. The remand followed the agency’s action over the alleged acceptance of ₹1.20 lakh. Judicial custody means authorities have placed the accused under the court’s custody through the applicable legal process. The case now moves forward through the investigation and judicial proceedings. The ACB will need to examine the evidence and establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged demand and payment. The court will consider the matter according to the applicable law and evidence presented. The allegations against Rakesh remain subject to the legal process. The case highlights the role of anti-corruption authorities in investigating complaints involving alleged misuse of official positions.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has continued investigating the alleged bribery case involving the TGSPDCL assistant engineer. Officials have accused Rakesh of seeking an undue advantage to approve the six electricity meter applications. The agency’s trap operation and recovery of the suspected bribe amount form important parts of its reported action. Investigators may examine relevant documents, application records, statements and other evidence connected with the complaint. These steps can help authorities assess whether the alleged demand was linked to the engineer’s official responsibilities. The case also draws attention to the importance of transparent procedures in public utility services. Consumers should be able to submit applications and receive decisions through established official channels. However, the final findings in this particular case will depend on the evidence and legal proceedings. The ACB has reported the engineer’s remand to judicial custody, while the investigation remains underway. Authorities have yet to establish the allegations through a final judicial determination. Further developments may clarify the evidence, the specific allegations and the subsequent course of action.