Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths caught Saluru Forest Range Officer P Yedukondalu while demanding and accepting Rs 15,000 as bribe from a complainant for an official favour, official sources said here today.
Allegedly, the accused demanded a bribe from complainant R Aadivishnu who is a timber trader in order to permit him to transport three lorries of teak wood, sources said.
DSP (ACB) K Lakshmipathi said that timber trader Aadivishnu hailing from Jangareddygudem of West Godavari district wanted to transport teak from Saluru to Jangareddygudem.
He made an application to the Forest Ranger's Office for permission to transport the wood, a few days ago.
However, Forest Ranger Yedukondalu allegedly sought Rs 15,000 to issue the permission to the timber trader, who approached ACB officials.
Later, an ACB team caught the Forest Range Officer red handed while he accepted the bribe amount from the timber trader through his computer operator N J S Nageswara Rao.
Both P Yedukondalu and N J S Nageswara Rao were arrested and were produced before the ACB court in Vizag. The case being investigated.
