Andhra Pradesh: Transport officials caught red-handed by ACB, taking Rs 2.5 lakh bribe

**Amaravati: **Andhra Pradesh’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) have seized over Rs. 2.5 lakh cash during the surprise checks, conducted against officials of the Transport Department in SPSR Nellore district.

The ACB said on Sunday that acting on credible inputs regarding collection of illegal gratification from vehicle drivers by the officials of the Transport Department, the agency sleuths conducted surprise checks at Musunuru Toll Plaza, National Highway-16, Near Kavali, SPSR Nellore district on the intervening night of September 5 and 6.

During the surprise check, it was noticed that Banavath Gopi Naik, MVI, District Enforcement, Nellore district, was allegedly collecting illegal gratification from vehicle drivers at the Toll plaza, with the assistance of two Home Guards and one private driver, using a KIA Seltos car.

During the searches, the cash found lying on the roadside was secured and counted in the presence of the mediators, and an amount of Rs.68,800 was found, the ACB said in a release.

Thereafter, the KIA Seltos car of MVI was searched in the presence of the mediators, during which Rs.1,80,000 cash was found concealed in the dicky of the vehicle. The said amount, which was found to be unaccounted for and suspected to be connected with illegal gratification, was seized by the DSP, ACB, Nellore Range, in the presence of official mediators, for further enquiry, the anti-graft agency said.

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The ACB has urged the public to report any instances of corruption in government departments to their respective local ACB offices or ACB toll-free No.1064 or ACB mobile No.94404 40057 or ACB email ID complaints-acb@ap.gov.in. The details of informants will be kept confidential, it said.

There have been several complaints of Transport Department officials demanding bribes in different parts of the State.

In March, 2026, the ACB had conducted surprise raids at multiple locations linked to Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector (AMVI) Pillutla Lokanadha Prasad, posted in Machilipatnam, in connection with a disproportionate assets case.

Acting on credible information that the officer had amassed wealth beyond his known sources of income, the ACB registered a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (amended 2018).

Officials had seized property documents, electronic gadgets and other incriminating material. According to ACB, the accused officials owned three houses in Vijayawada, a site at Gunadala, and 2.75 acres of agricultural land in Munagala village, Suryapeta district, Telangana.