Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh — The CBI Court in Kurnool on Monday, December 8, 2025, convicted and sentenced Challa Sreenivasulu, an Accounts Assistant in the office of the Senior Divisional Finance Manager (Sr. DFM), South Central Railway, Guntakal Division, to two years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a fine of ₹20,000 in a bribery case.
The judgment came after a detailed trial in a case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in November 2017, which revealed that the official had demanded a bribe from a contractor in exchange for processing pending payments.
Bribe Demand to Clear ₹30-Lakh Contract Bills
According to the CBI, the case was registered on November 20, 2017, based on a complaint filed by a contractor engaged in railway works. The complainant alleged that Sreenivasulu had demanded a bribe to expedite the processing of bills related to contract work executed between July 2017 and September 2017, valued at around ₹30 lakh.
The accused also allegedly sought illegal gratification for clearing earlier sanctioned bills owed to the complainant.
CBI Trap Operation and Arrest
Acting on the complaint, CBI officials laid a trap operation and caught Sreenivasulu red-handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹15,000 from the complainant.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of senior CBI officers and followed all standard procedural guidelines for trap cases under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The CBI subsequently arrested the accused and recovered the tainted money, which was seized as evidence.
Charge Sheet Filed After Investigation
After completing its investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet on March 29, 2018, against Sreenivasulu before the competent court. The evidence presented included the recorded conversations, recovery of marked currency notes, and witness testimonies that confirmed the accused’s role in the bribery demand.
The prosecution argued that the accused had misused his official position to demand unlawful gratification for performing his public duty, a violation punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Court Convicts and Sentences the Accused
After examining the evidence and hearing both sides, the Special CBI Court, Kurnool, held Sreenivasulu guilty of the charges. The court awarded two years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹20,000, emphasizing that such offences undermine public confidence in the integrity of public institutions.
The court observed that government officials entrusted with public finances have a duty to uphold transparency and accountability, and any deviation must be met with firm judicial action.
CBI Reiterates Commitment to Fight Corruption
Following the verdict, the CBI reiterated its resolve to continue taking strict action against corruption within government departments.
A senior CBI official stated that the agency remains committed to ensuring “zero tolerance toward corruption” and will pursue all such cases to their logical conclusion to maintain the integrity of public service.
