Bribe for Crackers: Telangana ACB Raids LB Nagar Fire Station
Telangana ACB conducts surprise check at LB Nagar Fire Station after allegations of bribery in firecracker shop licensing.
In a major crackdown on corruption, the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Ranga Reddy Range conducted a surprise check at the LB Nagar Fire Station on Saturday. The operation was launched following serious allegations of irregular activities and bribery linked to the issuance of temporary firecracker shop licenses.
Suspicious UPI Payments Uncovered
The ACB investigation revealed a stark contrast between the official government fees and the actual amounts being collected from applicants. While the prescribed online fee challan for a temporary cracker shop license is only Rs 500, the ACB discovered a pattern of illegal payments.
During the raid, officials scanned the mobile phones of the fire station staff and uncovered approximately ninety suspicious UPI transactions. These payments, which took place within the last week, ranged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,500 per transaction, suggesting that staff were charging applicants significantly more than the legal requirement.
Licensing Delays and Procedural Lapses
Beyond the financial irregularities, the ACB identified several procedural deviations. Out of the 397 applications received for temporary licenses, 26 remain pending. The bureau has now initiated a formal probe to determine why these specific applications were delayed and whether the pendency was used as a tool to extort more money from the public.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau has urged the public to report any official who demands money exceeding the Rs 500 fee or unfairly delays applications by calling the toll-free helpline number 1064.
A Pattern of Corruption
This raid follows another high-profile arrest by the Telangana ACB on October 28. In that instance, an Inspector of Police, M. Kondal Rao, and a Home Guard, Abid Ali, were apprehended for demanding a bribe of Rs 6,00,000.
The police officials were allegedly seeking the money to close a case registered against a complainant's father and to avoid coercive action. The ACB caught the duo after a part payment of Rs 3,00,000 was accepted through the Home Guard. Both accused were subsequently produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE & ACB cases in Nampally for judicial remand.