A professor from the state-run Osmania Medical College in Hyderabad was held by sleuths of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Thursday after he allegedly demanded a bribe from students of the educational institute, to make them pass in an examination.
The students lodged a complaint, following which ACB officials conducted searches at the office and residence of the professor, identified as B Balaji, Head of Department, General Medicine Department.
In their complaint, the students said that Balaji threatened to fail some of them in their examinations on March 2 and later demanded Rs 50,000 from some of them, for the 'risk' that he was taking to make them pass. He also collected their hall tickets and contact numbers and insisted that they send the money even though they said that they could not afford the amount, the ACB said.
The ACB also added that the accused then forwarded a photograph to the students of a cheque that belonged to a bank account registered under the name of R Srinu and asked them to transfer the money there. The students told investigation officials that they transferred Rs 75,000 at least into Srinu's account.
According to media reports, ACB officials found many incriminating documents that showed Balaji's assets to be disproportionate to his income as he owned a flat, two agricultural lands and several open plots.
“He has a bank balance of Rs 10 lakh and total property are worth Rs 2.51 crore and the market value is approximately Rs 6 crore,” an officer was quoted as saying.
The accused was presented before a special court and was sent to judicial remand.
The ACB said that anyone with such complaints of corruption could come forward and reach out to them on on WhatsApp number 79010 99398 or their toll-free number 1064, and ensured that strict action would be taken as per law.