Forest official caught accepting 30k bribe

Eluru: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) personnel caught a forest beat officer while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a farmer at RR Peta area in Eluru on Thursday. According to ACB DSP Gopalakrishna, Katuboina Srikanth, forest beat officer (Wildlife) at Eluru, has demanded Rs 50,000 from Meduri Venkateswara Rao of Dosapadu village to take up fishing. 

He threatened the victim that cases will be registered against him if he fails to pay the amount. Vexed with the harassment of beat officer, Venkateswara Rao approached the ACB officials in Eluru.  On the directions of ACB officials, Venkateswara Rao bargained the forest beat officer and agreed to pay Rs 30,000 to him.

The beat officer asked Venkateswara Rao to bring the amount to a steel shop near a mess in Pattebada road of RR Peta area. As per the instructions, the victim reached the steel shop and gave Rs 30,000 to beat officer. When the officer is accepting the amount, the ACB team conducted raid and seized the currency from his possession.

From 2016, the accused Srikanth is working as forest beat officer (wildlife) at Dosapadu village in Denduluru mandal under the control of district forest office. He used to collect money from fishermen who are venturing into Kolleru lake as part of fishing. ACB DSP Gopalakrishna said that the forest beat officer Srikanth will be produced before ACB court in Vijayawada.