Andhra Pradesh: Temple employee caught red-handed while accepting bribe in Krishna dist

An employee of the Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy temple in Nandigama town of Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district was caught red-handed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 25,000. The accused has been identified as T Sobhanadri, a senior assistant at the temple. The ACB officials informed that Sobhanadri was nabbed for demanding a bribe from a man called Sudheer, for attender post in the temple.

While sharing details regarding the case, ACB in a statement said that Sudheer was working as an attender in the temple long back and he was not taken back into the service.

READ | 13 arrested in call centre raid for duping man over installing mobile tower

"Sudheer was not taken into services after he went on a long leave for one year in 2016. The Executive Officers (EO) of the temple changed in past four years, but nobody gave him his post back. Sudheer approached the High Court which gave order in his favor. Sudheer took the High Court order to the present EO, but he did not let Sudheer join his post. At this juncture, temple senior assistant Sobhanadri assured him the job, and asked a bribe of Rs 5 lakhs, to convince the EO. After negotiations, it was accepted for Rs 3 lakhs. Sobhanadri asked Sudheer to bring Rs 25,000 on Tuesday for petty expenses," the ACB said.

Soon after this Sudheer approached the ACB sleuths who caught Sobhanadri red-handed. The ACB officials have detained Sobhanadri and are inquiring about the matter.

READ | Andhra Pradesh: YSRCP leader hosts large gathering to celebrate b'day; COVID norms flouted

'A trap was laid'

ACB ASP Maheswara Raju informed that "a trap was laid on Tuesday at about 10:00 hours against Accused Officer T Sobhanadri, Senior Assistant Executive Officer, Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy Temple, Nandigama, Krishna district and he was caught red-handed by ACB officials at his office when he further demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 25,000 from the complainant B Sudheer, Ex. Attender of the temple."

Raju added that the chemical test conducted on the fingers of both hands and the iron safe of Subhindra yielded positive results. The tainted amount was recovered and relevant records were seized, he said. Sobhanadri is being arrested and produced before the Hon'ble court of Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases, Vijayawada, Raju said.

READ | Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan meets Modi, discusses pending state issues

The complainant Sudheer said that he had worked as an attender in Sri Ramalingeswara Swamy temple in Nandigama of Krishna district. "I am taken into rolls in 2014 and my scale is ordered. In 2016 my father fell sick and I had to go on leave. I could not come to duty for one year due to my parents' ill-health. I had given intimation about that. Later I kept on requesting the changing EOs of the temple but in vain. I approached the high court in July 2020. The high court has given a direction to the EO to conceive my job within 3 weeks. I had given the order copy to the EO by hand and even sent the courier. But now he is not picking the phone. Sobhanadri said that he will manage the EO if I give Rs 5 lakhs. At last he accepted for Rs 3 lakhs," Sudheer said.

Vijayawada Range ACB Additional SP KM Maheswara Raju, DSP Sarath, Inspectors Krupa Vandanam, Siva Kumar, Sub Inspector Nancharaiah, and other staff participated in the trap Operation.

READ | Andhra Pradesh HC to hold daily hearings of pleas against govt's move for three capitals

(With inputs from ANI)