Bandlaguda RTO constable suspended over cash video
HYDERABAD: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials on Monday conducted a surprise raid at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Bandlaguda, Hyderabad South Zone, after a video of a constable counting currency notes inside the office went viral on social media.
The ACB officials sealed the main gate of the office and began questioning officials, staff, applicants, agents and private individuals. The inquiry continued into the night.
ACB questions about 60 people inside office
The officials took away mobile phones and questioned people individually. Those against whom they found no suspicion were allowed to leave.
Some agents and others tried to leave the premises when the ACB team arrived. Officials chased them, caught them and brought them back into the office before closing the doors.
Agents, shopkeepers and operators of photocopy centres in the vicinity shut their establishments and left after the raid began.
The ACB started questioning people around 2.30pm. Officials searched drawers and desks and examined application forms and files kept in the office. They also checked the cash held by staff and questioned them about online payments, including suspected Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions.
The presence of officials and staff inside the office, without information being available to their families, led some family members to come to the premises and enquire about their whereabouts.
Viral cash-counting video triggers inquiry
The raid followed the circulation of a video purportedly showing RTO constable Arun counting currency notes inside the office. News reports on the video had caused concern among officials and staff from Monday morning.
There was also information that the joint transport commissioner would visit the office. RTO L Ramchander, Motor Vehicle Inspector Bheem Singh and constable Arun then left for the joint transport commissioner’s office.
Before the ACB team arrived, vigilance officials had reportedly inspected the RTO office and its surroundings.
The ACB subsequently surrounded the office and closed the main gate soon after arriving. Several agents and others present at the gate tried to leave but were stopped by the officials.
Transport department officials had earlier taken action against Ramchander, Bheem Singh and Arun following the controversy over the video. Recent reports said Arun was suspended, while Ramchander and Bheem Singh were removed from their responsibilities at the Bandlaguda office and attached to the department headquarters.
ACB finds suspected links with agents
Anand Kumar, DSP, ACB Ranga Reddy Range, said the officials were questioning about 60 people who were inside the main gate, including officials, staff, applicants, agents and private individuals.
“An inquiry is continuing. We are questioning about 60 officials, staff, applicants, agents and private individuals who were inside the main gate. We questioned 30 applicants and some other individuals and sent them out. We found that some staff members had links with agents. Small amounts of cash were found with some of them. Suspicious UPI payments have come to our notice. We are also investigating the viral video,” Kumar said.
The ACB is continuing its inquiry into the cash found with staff, alleged links between employees and agents, online transactions and the circumstances surrounding the viral video.
