Andhra Pradesh: Tainted engineer back on duty in Manyam as ACB fails to prove guilt

VISAKHAPATNAM: In a major embarrassment to Anti-Corruption-Bureau (ACB), Polaki Santha Rao, a junior engineer (assistant engineer in-charge) in the APEPDCL in Parvathipuram in Andhra Pradesh's Manyam district, who escaped from the trap laid by ACB on August 27 night, was arrested on September 1 night has now joined his respective position on Saturday.


The ACB officials have failed to prove guilt of the accused before the court. The officials conducted a search in the house of Rao at Vizianagaram and they have 400 gms of gold ornaments, two kgs of silver jewellery, Rs 1.95 lakh cash and some documents.

The ACB officials are verifying the records of the illegal assets of the tainted engineer to establish a disproportionate asset (DA) case against him. They registered a case against him under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

It may be recalled that ACB sleuths had laid a trap following a complaint from a farmer at Mulakkayavalasa village under Makkuva police station limits in Manyam district on August 27 night. While Santha Rao was taking a bribe of Rs 40,000 from the farmer, he noticed the sleuths, threw the bribe amount into the farmland, and fled in a car. In a bid to escape, he hit ACB inspector Srinivasa Rao’s bike with his car and fled leaving behind his car. Fortunately, the inspector escaped with minor injuries.

Speaking to TOI, DSP of ACB, P Ramachandra Rao said that they have arrested the accused Santha Rao and produced him before the ACB court in Vizag city on Friday. The court directed the ACB to issue notice to the accused under Section 41 of Criminal Procedure Code as the court observed that the accused was not caught while he was accepting the kick-back and the evidence against him was not enough to prove his guilt. The accused was not remanded, and he was issued notices. The accused joined his position on Saturday. We have been discussing with higher officials for further steps into the case, he added.

The Makkuva police said that they have not received a complaint so far from the ACB officials to register a case against Santha Rao for hitting the inspector of ACB. We will register a case against him once we get a formal complaint from the ACB, they added.