Money For Bribe Clipped Together With Documents Pictured In Hyderabad Transport Office, RTA Denies Allegation

Social media was buzzing furiously yesterday over pictures of alleged bundles of cash for bribe attached to documents with the Road Transport Authority (RTA) at Patancheru in Hyderabad.

The images first surfaced on Twitter and were uploaded by BT Srinivasan, General Secretary of the United Federation of Residents’ Welfare Associations. These pictures created a stir on social media as people thought the officials were taking bribes to get work done.

“Someone posted these pictures of Patancheru RTO Office on my Facebook timeline. Driving license, new vehicle registration, renewal applications are nicely arranged with a required kickback for approval. Great collective effort by brokers,” Srinivasan tweeted.

Someone posted these pictures of Patancheru RTO Office on my FB timeline. Driving license, New Vehicle registration – renewal Applications are nicely arranged with required kick back for approval. Great collective effort by brokers. @TelanganaDGP @RachakondaCop @cyberabadpolice pic.twitter.com/qYs34l60Zg

— B T Srinivasan (@srinivasanBT) May 9, 2018

Youth for Anti-Corruption

The picture was initially taken by members of an NGO, Youth for Anti-Corruption. “It was a sting operation conducted with the help of a complainant who contacted Youth for Anti-corruption through our Facebook contact. The complainant informed that despite having all qualifications and supporting documents, his file was not being approved for over two months and when the complainant approached the office, he found bribe being demanded to push the file. On May 8, along with the complainant, a team visited the Patancheru RTO office and found a bunch of applications with a bundle of cash pinned to it,” Whistleblower Palnati Rajendra claimed while speaking to Deccan Chronicle.

The pictures show that the documents have the letter “B” on them that might suggest that these belonged to brokers and the brokers might have collected the money.

After the news spread, RTA officials conducted investigations and said that the picture was not taken at RTA office at Patancheru.

“The floor, the table and other objects seen in the image do not suggest the image was taken at RTO Patancheru. I have also had the image checked at other RTO offices. We will inquire further and if an official has been found to indulging in such activities, action will be taken,” District Transport Officer Sangareddy K. Venkata Ramana told The Hindu.