Ex-ACB cop, excise staff raided

GUNTUR: Anti-Corruption Bureau sleuths raided the residences of former Guntur ACB circle inspector P Mallikarjuna Rao and camp clerk in the excise deputy commissioner’s office V Seshagiri Rao on Thursday, and took them into custody for questioning. Simultaneous raids were conducted on the residences of Mallikarjuna Rao, V Seshagiri Rao, his brother and excise constable V Subba Rao, and excise head constable R Sekhar here.Raids were also conducted on the residence of Mallikarjuna Rao’s relatives in Hyderabad and Kurnool.ACB joint director Sampath Kumar said they registered two cases against Mallikarjuna Rao for tampering with the seized records and non-submission of a vital copy (page) from the liquor syndicate records to the court.Mallikarjuna Rao, who was working in the ACB on deputation from the police department, was recently repatriated to his parent department following allegations against him.They seized some valuable documents related to liquor syndicate probe from him.Seshagiri Rao is said to be a partner in 40 wine shops and his brother Subba Rao has partnership in four bars in Guntur city.It is learnt that Seshagiri Rao, who was in the list of promotion before his retirement in May this year, declined it, preferring the `perks’ he received at the office of the deputy commissioner of excise and prohibition.N Srinivasa Rao and Marri Subba Reddy, who were arrested 20 days ago, are learnt to have given some crucial information to the ACB during interrogation.The ACB had already submitted a list to the court stating that bribes to the tune of Rs 1.4 crore were paid to excise employees and another Rs 1.6 crore to policemen and others.The latest raids made police and excise officials jittery and some have gone on leave anticipating trouble, it is learn