Is a Railway Official in Telangana Under Investigation for Bribery?

Synopsis
The CBI has taken legal action against a railway official in Telangana for allegedly accepting bribes from candidates appointed as traffic inspectors and chief controllers. This case raises significant concerns about corruption within public service recruitment processes.
Key Takeaways
- CBI investigation into railway official's bribery.
- Alleged bribes collected from candidates for government positions.
- Unusual bank transactions flagged by the CBI.
- Importance of transparency in public service recruitment.
- Legal implications under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
New Delhi, April 29 (NationPress) – The CBI has initiated legal action against a railway official accused of soliciting substantial bribes from individuals chosen for roles as traffic inspectors and chief controllers at the South Central Railway office located in Secunderabad, Telangana. An official disclosed this information on Tuesday.
Reports indicate that Syed Munvar Basha allegedly accepted bribes amounting to Rs 1.25 lakh, transferred to his son's bank account via UPI from four individuals, in addition to receiving Rs 40,000 in cash from another candidate during July and August 2023.
From January 2022 to October 2023, both Basha and his son’s bank accounts were credited with Rs 31.62 lakh, which was notably excessive considering his known income sources, according to the CBI.
The case against Basha was filed following a preventive check by the vigilance department, prompted by a complaint that corroborated allegations of wrongdoing.
During the investigation, vigilance officials examined candidate selection files and uncovered that Basha had received Rs 30,000 from Koyyada Sajith Goud on August 28 and 31, 2023; Rs 25,000 from U. Dinesh on August 30 and 31, 2021; and Rs 20,000 from Salivendra Sandeep on August 27 and 30, 2023. Additionally, Rs 50,000 was transferred from Gadekari Sekhar on August 28 and 30, via UPI to his son’s SBI account.
The vigilance inquiry also verified that Basha received Rs 20,000 on two occasions from Naresh Kummara.
Search operations were conducted by the CBI at multiple locations in Solapur, Hyderabad, and Guntakal, resulting in the seizure of incriminating documents, as stated by an official.
Prior to lodging the FIR against Basha, the CBI indicated in their preliminary report that, “The aforementioned facts prima facie indicate offences punishable under section 120-B IPC, section 61(2) BNS, 2023, and sections 7(a) and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 by Basha and unidentified public servants.”
The CBI obtained approval from the Telangana government to proceed with action against Basha on March 25, 2025.