Hans News Service Hanumakonda

Ina surprise operation conducted by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday, an In-charge Mandal Education Officer (MEO) and a school assistant teacher were caught red-handed while allegedly accepting a bribe for processing pension benefits of a retiring teacher. According to official sources, Ravikumar, serving as In-charge MEO of Gudur mandal in Mahabubabad district and also working as Headmaster of Ayodhyapuram Zilla Parishad Secondary School, along with teacher Chandramouli, was apprehended by ACB officials while accepting Rs 15,000 from a complainant.

The victim, a primary school teacher under the Ayodhyapuram ZPSS cluster, was due to retire on the 30th of this month. As part of the mandatory procedure, pension-related documents and allowances were required to be verified and forwarded to the accounts department at least three months prior to retirement. It was alleged that Ravikumar had initially demanded a bribe of Rs 45,000 to process the file. Despite repeated visits over the past three months and requests citing financial constraints, the teacher failed to get the work completed.

Subsequently, Chandramouli reportedly intervened as a mediator and suggested a reduced settlement amount of Rs 15,000 — Rs 10,000 for the MEO and Rs 5,000 for himself. Unwilling to succumb to the demand, the victim approached ACB authorities and lodged a complaint.

Acting on the information, ACB officials laid a trap and caught both the accused while they were accepting the bribe amount. The team also conducted searches and gathered incriminating evidence, said DSP Sambaiah.

Both individuals were taken into custody, and further investigation was underway. The accused were to be produced before the ACB court in Warangal on Thursday, officials added.