Samalkota graft case: Engineer, aide arrested after ACB trap

Rajahmundry: Acting on a complaint by Kanuri Pavan Kumar, a resident of Samalkota in Kakinada district, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Rajahmundry, registered a case against Katari Sasidhar, deputy executive engineer of Samalkota Municipality, and Oduri Swamy Srinivas, ward amenities secretary of the 15th Sachivalayam, on Tuesday.

Pavan Kumar, a class-V contractor, had secured four municipal works, including construction of CC roads, CC drains and installation of a main gate, with a total estimated value of approximately Rs 12 lakh. He deposited the required earnest money and completed the works. After completion, the details were entered in the M-Book and forwarded to the deputy executive engineer for check measurement and bill processing. However, despite repeated visits to the municipal office, his bills were allegedly withheld.

The complainant later learnt that a bribe of Rs 10,000 was being demanded for clearing the pending bills. Acting on behalf of the deputy executive engineer, ward amenities secretary Oduri Swamy Srinivas allegedly sought the amount. When approached, Sasidhar reportedly confirmed the demand and instructed the complainant to pay through Srinivas.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, Pavan Kumar approached the ACB. Acting on the complaint, ACB officials trapped Srinivas while he was demanding and accepting Rs 10,000 at the Samalkota Municipality office, allegedly at the behest of Sasidhar. Both officials were subsequently arrested.