Retired Revenue Officer Sentenced to Three Years in Visakhapatnam ACB Bribery Case
In a significant verdict against corruption, the special judge of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Visakhapatnam delivered a judgment on Thursday, sentencing a retired revenue officer to three years of simple imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 after finding the former official guilty of accepting a bribe in exchange for issuing a pattadar passbook to two individuals.
Details of the Conviction and the Accused
The convicted officer, identified as Sunkesula Siddaiah, had served as the Tahsildar of Bheemili in Vizag back in 2015. According to the ACB officials, Siddaiah was apprehended in his office on February 9, 2015, while accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000. The bribe was taken from Surala Venkata Rao and his brother as payment for issuing a pattadar passbook in their names for a plot of land measuring approximately 0.33 acres.
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Following the arrest, the ACB conducted a thorough investigation into the matter. After completing the probe, the bureau filed a charge sheet against Siddaiah before the ACB court in Vizag in 2026. The trial for this corruption case commenced in 2025, leading to a detailed judicial process that examined the evidence and testimonies presented.
Court's Verdict and Post-Retirement Implications
After the conclusion of the trial, the court found Siddaiah guilty of the bribery charges. As a result, he was sentenced to three years of simple imprisonment along with the monetary fine. It is noteworthy that Siddaiah had already retired from service upon reaching the age of superannuation long before the trial concluded, highlighting that legal accountability extends beyond an individual's active tenure in public office.
This case underscores the ongoing efforts by anti-corruption authorities in Andhra Pradesh to combat graft and ensure that public servants are held accountable for their actions, regardless of their retirement status.
