VIJAYAWADA: In an embarrassment to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the watchdog of transparency in the State, a senior manager working the in secret branch of the ACB headquarters in Vijayawada is found to have leaked confidential information about raids and complaints registered against the government servants to vested interest. ACB Director General (DG) RP Thakur suspended D Sobhan Babu on Tuesday on the charge of being hand in glove with several corrupt officers.
He was caught red-handed while revealing confidential information to errant public servants. The issue came to light after his cellphone number was found in one tainted official’s call data history during the raids conducted by Central Investigation Unit (CIU) team of the ACB.
The ACB officials found that the officer was in touch with more than 50 corrupted officers and had obtained several favours from them. The allegations against Sobhan Babu was proved while searches were being conducted at the houses of Gajuwaka SRO D Venkaiah Naidu and Pamu Panduranga Rao in disproportionate assets (DA) cases. The officer was found to have made contacts with the tainted officials prior to the registration of the DA cases.
Modus operandi
In his official capacity, Sobhan Babu was responsible for receiving and processing complaints, petitions and inquiries. He would receive a petition against corrupt officials and he would alert them
In return, he would demand money from the corrupt officers and other incentives