The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Rathod Bikku Naik, a Cooperative Department Officer of Mancherial district, after he was caught red-handed accepting a Rs2 lakh bribe at his residence on Saturday morning.
According to Adilabad ACB ASP Madhu, the case dates back to Naik’s tenure as the in-charge Cooperative District Officer in Asifabad, where an employee had been suspended in November last year.
To reinstate the suspended employee and process his pending salary arrears, Naik allegedly demanded a total bribe of Rs7 lakh. During the payment of the first instalment of Rs2 lakh, ACB officials conducted a surprise operation and apprehended him on the spot.
Following the arrest, ACB teams carried out searches at the District Cooperative Officer’s office located in the Integrated Collectorate premises in Naspur, Mancherial district.
Officials stated that further investigations are underway to trace any additional assets or irregularities linked to Naik’s service.
