Forest Section Officer arrested for ‘accepting’ ₹4 lakh bribe

Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials nabbed Narsapuram Divisional Forest Officer for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹4 lakh from a sawmill owner in West Godavari district on Tuesday.

Forest officer Sadu Suresh Kumar allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹5 lakh from the complainant to prevent the seizure of the sawmill.

The complainant, who runs a sawmill in Pennada village in West Godavari district, had cut down teak wood brought by a farmer from his own field. While the farmer was transporting the teak tree, Bhimavaram Forest Department officials seized the wood along with a four-wheeler vehicle. Later, Forest officials stopped the activities of the sawmill.

The accused demanded ₹ 5 lakh from the complainant to avoid seizure of the sawmill and continue operations.

ACB officials caught Sadu Suresh Kumar accepting bribe at his home on Tuesday. The accused has been arrested and will be produced before the ACB Court in Rajahmahendravaram, ACB officials said in a press release.