A deputy tax officer of the Commercial Tax Department was today caught red-handed by the anti-corruption bureau while accepting a bribe of Rs 1.5 lakh from a jeweller here.
Pamula Kamala Rao, the officer, had demanded the bribe from M Srinivas, proprietor of Srinivasa Jewellers.
Deputy superintendent of police K Ramakrishna Prasad said that Rao had inspected the Srinivasa Jewellers on February 7 this year and seized some gold and silver jewellery in excess of the purchase bills.
Later he struck a deal with Srinivas for releasing the jewellery in return for Rs 3 lakh. He then released the seized gold and silver ornaments without following the due procedures and collected two blank cheques from Srinivas.
When on March 10 Srinivas approached him for the release of ledger and cashbook, Rao demanded another Rs 3 lakh. It was negotiated down to Rs 1.5 lakh.
Srinivas then approached the ACB officials who laid a trap today and arrested Rao.
