An assistant engineer of the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited was allegedly caught accepting a Rs 1.2 lakh bribe in Hyderabad on Thursday in connection with applications for six new electricity meters, according to Anti-Corruption Bureau officials.
P Sandhaya Rakesh, who is posted at the TGSPDCL Madannapet Section in Santosh Nagar, was allegedly caught by ACB officials while accepting the money from a complainant. The agency said the bribe was demanded in exchange for approving online applications for new meters to replace old and missing meters.
The ACB recovered the bribe amount from the assistant engineer at his instance, officials said. The agency’s account describes an alleged demand and acceptance of money linked to a routine electricity-service approval process. The applications concerned six separate new electricity meters, although the supplied information does not specify the premises involved or the time taken to process them.
The case places an essential urban utility at the centre of the alleged transaction. Electricity meter approvals connect residents and establishments to the formal distribution system, while delays or obstacles in the process can affect occupancy, commercial activity and access to power services. The ACB statement, however, does not provide details of any wider disruption to electricity supply or identify the complainant.
After the alleged trap, Rakesh was produced before the special court for ACB cases at Nampally. The court remanded the officer in judicial custody, according to the agency. The supplied report does not mention the sections of law invoked, the next hearing date or any response from TGSPDCL.
The ACB urged citizens to report demands for bribes by government officials through its toll-free number, 1064, or on WhatsApp at 9440446106. It also directed citizens to use the agency’s official social media platforms to submit complaints.
The case remains an allegation at this stage. The next formal developments will depend on the court proceedings and the investigation into the alleged demand and acceptance of the bribe.
