An intriguing incident unfolded on Wednesday at the Madhurawada Sub-Registrar’s Office in Visakhapatnam when a man named Sudhakar, hailing from Srikakulam, posed as an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officer and allegedly threatened office staff for a bribe.He demanded a bribe of ₹5 lakh to prevent an impending raid that he claimed would take place in the office. However, his suspicious behaviour and attire raised doubts among the staff, leading the Sub-Registrar to alert the police. Sudhakar was soon arrested by the PM Palem police, and during their investigation, it was revealed that he was not an ACB officer but a fraud.
The case took an unexpected turn when the police discovered that Sudhakar was being supported by a former police official, Swarnalatha, who had been previously suspended for involvement in similar criminal activities. Swarnalatha, currently serving as an AR Inspector in Bapatla district, had allegedly used Sudhakar’s guise as an ACB officer to intimidate the Sub-Registrar, Chakrapani, for extortion. The police traced the phone number used to contact Chakrapani, which was linked to Swarnalatha. This revelation added another layer to the investigation, leading to Swarnalatha’s arrest. Swarnalatha, who had previously been arrested in connection with a currency exchange scam in Visakhapatnam, was known for her ambition to become an actress and had even trained in film and dance institutes. Despite her past encounters with the law, it appears her tendencies to engage in fraudulent schemes have not changed.
Sudhakar, the man caught posing as a fake ACB officer, is an active TDP leader and serves as the Visakhapatnam Parliamentary BC Cell representative. After the alliance government’s recent win, he put up flex banners featuring himself with CM Chandrababu Naidu, which are now widely circulating on social media. Netizens are waiting to see how the TDP will respond.
