Forest officer arrested for demanding ₹30,000 bribe from podu cultivator in Telangana

A Beat Forest Officer in Bhadradri Kothagudem district allegedly directed an associate to collect ₹30,000 from a podu cultivator in exchange for turning a blind eye to unauthorised farming, the Anti-Corruption Bureau said after arresting both men in a trap operation.

Banoth Ravi Kumar, BFO of Kachanapally Beat and in-charge of Ramanujagudem Beat in Allapally mandal, is accused of demanding the bribe to ensure he would not obstruct the complainant's podu cultivation or take action such as digging trenches. According to the ACB, the alleged arrangement would have allowed the cultivator to continue farming without interference and potentially preserve his prospects of obtaining a patta or regularisation of the land in future, subject to government policy and procedure.

The Trap

Ravi Kumar allegedly instructed the complainant to hand over the money to Pathan Sadiq Khan at Khan's residence in Ramanujagudem village, telling him he would collect the amount from Khan later. The complainant delivered the cash as directed. ACB officials recovered the tainted ₹30,000 during the trap, and a chemical test conducted on Khan's hands returned positive results.

The bureau said Ravi Kumar had demanded and accepted the illegal gratification through Khan by allegedly misusing his official position. Both accused were arrested and are being produced before the Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases. The case is under investigation.

The ACB has withheld the complainant's identity for security reasons. The bureau has appealed to the public to report demands for bribes by public servants on its toll-free number 1064.

Source: The Hindu