Vijayawada: The ACB arrested Tribal Welfare Department EIC Sabbavarapu Srinivas on Thursday while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from a contractor in exchange for an official favor red handedly.

According to ACB officials, Srinivas has two previously registered cases against him under corruption charges. The complainant, Chekuri Krishnamraju, Managing Partner of Sri Satya Sai Constructions, Visakhapatnam, had been executing contract works related to the Tribal Welfare Department.

A certain amount was pending from the Government in connection with deviation contract works undertaken at various locations in the State, particularly in the districts of Alluri Sitaramaraju, Parvathipuram Manyam, and Srikakulam. The Srinivas reportedly demanded a bribe of Rs 5 crores from the contractor to sanction the deviation contract works. The contractor Ch. Krishnamraju complained to the ACB officials that EIC demanded bribe.

Based on the complaint, the ACB officials registered a case against Srinivas and caught him red-handed while accepting the bribe amount at his office. During the investigation, it was noticed that Srinivas had several allegations of corruption in the past while serving as an AEE in Visakhapatnam. It was also found that he had amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Citizens are requested to report any instance of corruption in any State Government office by lodging a complaint with the local ACB office or contacting the ACB through the toll-free number 1064 or WhatsApp 9440440057.