The sleuths of the ACB caught red-handed Gudivada Municipality Commissioner N. Pramod Kumar who accepted a bribe of ₹1.10 lakh from a civic contractor at his office on Thursday.
According to ACB officials, Mr. Pramod had been demanding a share of about 3% of the bill value as bribe from Koya Venkata Akka Rao who executed several works worth ₹37 lakh a few years ago. The Commissioner asked Mr. Akka Rao to pay ₹1.10 lakh for doing the official ‘favour’ of issuing pass orders for the pending bills. Vexed by the demand, the contractor approached the ACB and lodged a complaint.
“The officer had been demanding two to three percent advance share before signing any cheque. Due to lack of funds, the bills had been kept pending and now the official demanded a share in it. With no option left I have approached the ACB,” he told reporters.
ACB DSP V.V. Prasada Rao and his team laid a trap and caught the official accepting the bribe at 11.15 a.m. Mr. Pramod was arrested and would be produced in court on Friday. Mr. Pramod, who worked as the Gudivada Municipal Commissioner for three years in the past, faced allegations of corruption before he was transferred. Surprisingly, he returned to the same post 10 months ago.
