Telangana Cyber Security Bureau inspector trapped by ACB in ₹9 lakh bribery case

An Inspector of Police attached to the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) was caught by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday for demanding and accepting bribe from a complainant in connection with a cyber fraud case.

According to the ACB, the accused officer, Bathula Mahendar, demanded ₹9 lakh from the complainant in exchange for not implicating the complainant’s family members and friends in a cyber fraud case registered at the Central Crime Police Station of the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau.

The agency said that the officer had already accepted ₹5 lakh in cash as part payment of the bribe. On Saturday, he demanded the remaining ₹4 lakh and threatened the complainant at his office.

Acting on the complaint, the ACB’s Central Investigation Unit apprehended the officer at his workplace while he was taking the balance amount.

During subsequent searches at the officer’s residence, ACB officials recovered and seized ₹13 lakh in unaccounted cash, gold ornaments and certain property-related documents. Verification of his assets is underway.

The officer has been arrested and was produced before the special court for SPE and ACB cases at Nampally for judicial remand. The complainant’s identity has been withheld for security reasons.

The ACB said the investigation is continuing.