telangana
Forest Range Officer Ravinder Arrested for Accepting Rs 12,000 Bribe in Khanapur Timber Case
Anti‑Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials caught Khanapur Forest Range Officer Ravinder taking a Rs 12,000 bribe from a timber depot owner to expedite an inspection report. He was arrested, presented before a special court in Karimnagar and placed in judicial custody, while the ACB urges the public to report similar corruption.
By Indrajeet Devulapally ·
What happened
Anti‑Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials caught Khanapur Forest Range Officer Ravinder taking a Rs 12,000 bribe from a timber depot owner to expedite an inspection report. He was arrested, presented before a special court in Karimnagar and placed in judicial custody, while the ACB urges the public to report similar corruption. Khanapur Forest Range Officer Ravinder was arrested for taking a Rs 12,000 bribe to expedite a timber inspection report, and the ACB urges the public to report corruption.
TL;DR
Khanapur Forest Range Officer Ravinder was arrested for taking a Rs 12,000 bribe to expedite a timber inspection report, and the ACB urges the public to report corruption.
Key points
- Forest Range Officer Ravinder was caught accepting Rs 12,000 from a timber depot owner in Khanapur
- He initially demanded Rs 20,000 before agreeing to the lower amount
- Ravinder was arrested, presented before a special ACB court in Karimnagar and remanded in judicial custody
- The ACB advises citizens to report bribery via toll‑free 1064, WhatsApp 94404 46106, Facebook or X
- The complainant’s identity will not be disclosed
Anti‑Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials in Telangana intercepted a Forest Range Officer (FRO) in the act of accepting a bribe, leading to his immediate arrest. The incident occurred on Thursday when the officer, identified as Ravinder, was caught taking Rs 12,000 from the owner of a timber depot in Khanapur. The payment was intended to secure a visit to the depot and the forwarding of an inspection report to higher officials, a routine procedure that should be carried out without personal gain.
According to ACB Adilabad Deputy Superintendent of Police Madhu, Ravinder initially demanded a higher sum of Rs 20,000 from the depot owner. After the owner’s request, the officer agreed to accept the reduced amount of Rs 12,000. Once the transaction was documented, ACB officers took Ravinder into custody. He was subsequently produced before a special court that handles ACB cases in Karimnagar, where he was remanded in judicial custody pending further investigation.
The ACB has launched a broader investigation into the matter and reiterated its call for citizens to report any instances of public servants demanding bribes for official favors. The agency provided multiple channels for reporting, including a toll‑free number (1064), a WhatsApp line (94404 46106), and social‑media accounts on Facebook (Telangana ACB) and X (formerly Twitter) @TelanganaACB. The identity of the complainant who triggered the sting operation will remain confidential, ACB officials said.
This case underscores ongoing concerns about corruption within forest administration, where officials wield significant authority over timber licensing and inspection processes. By publicly exposing the misconduct, the ACB aims to deter similar behavior and reinforce accountability among public servants.