Full Breakdown
Deputy Tahsildar and VRO Nabbed in INR5 Lakh Bribery Sting in Keesara
By Drooid · · How we work
The Arrest and Alleged Bribe Scheme
On October 15, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Rangareddy Range arrested three individuals in Keesara mandal of Medchal-Malkajgiri district. The accused are deputy tahsildar Amanaganti Sandeep Kumar Reddy, village revenue officer (VRO) Nannuri Vijay Kumar Reddy, and their associate Kavali Balakrishna. According to the ACB, Sandeep Kumar Reddy demanded a total of INR5 lakh from a complainant to process the removal of agricultural properties from the prohibited-properties list under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908. The complainant paid INR2.50 lakh, which Balakrishna accepted before the trap was sprung.
Roles and Alleged Misuse of Authority
A deputy tahsildar oversees revenue administration at the sub-district level, while a VRO handles village-level land-record functions. The ACB alleges that Sandeep Kumar Reddy instructed Vijay Kumar Reddy to facilitate the collection of the bribe, and that Vijay Kumar Reddy directed Balakrishna to receive the cash. The officials are accused of leveraging their statutory powers to obtain an undue advantage in exchange for performing routine duties.
Investigation Findings and Legal Process
The ACB’s operation recovered the INR2.50 lakh from Balakrishna’s possession. All three accused were produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases at Nampally for judicial remand. The bureau has launched a broader search of the Keesara Mandal Revenue Office to determine whether additional persons were involved.
Potential Impact on Local Governance
The case highlights vulnerabilities in land-record administration and underscores the ACB’s focus on curbing corruption among revenue officials. If convictions follow, the incident could prompt stricter oversight of revenue officers and reinforce internal controls within the district’s land-registration system.
Next Steps in the Case
The investigation remains open, with the ACB indicating that further inquiries will assess the extent of any collusion. The accused will remain in judicial custody while the court reviews the evidence and decides on further legal action.
