Deputy registrar held in ₹2 lakh bribe trap in Mancherial
MANCHERIAL: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday arrested Rathod Bhikku, Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies and District Co-operative Officer, Mancherial, for allegedly accepting a ₹2 lakh bribe.
According to the ACB Adilabad unit, Bhikku, 56, who was holding full additional charge of Kumrambheem Asifabad district, was caught red-handed at a rented house in Mancherial at around 9.02am.
Investigators said the officer initially demanded ₹7 lakh from the complainant but later agreed to accept ₹5 lakh after repeated requests. He received the first instalment of ₹2 lakh for showing official favour to the complainant.
The ACB said the bribe was meant for four favours — sending a positive report to the committee for the complainant’s reinstatement from suspension (ordered on November 4, 2024); implementing Government Order No. 44 for pay fixation and release of pending increased salaries since April 2023; issuing orders to pay suspension period allowances; and ensuring no action was taken on an enquiry report against the complainant.
The tainted amount was recovered from Bhikku’s possession. He was arrested and produced before the Special Judge for SPE and ACB cases in Karimnagar. The case is under investigation.
The ACB has appealed to citizens to report any demand for bribes to its toll-free helpline 1064 or WhatsApp number 9440446106. It said complainants’ identities will be kept confidential.
