The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday caught a Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) in Jagtial district allegedly while accepting a bribe of ₹63,000 for not making adverse remarks during inspections of Anganwadi centres.

The accused officer, Daroju Padma, CDPO, Metpally, was caught by the ACB’s Karimnagar unit while allegedly accepting the money from the complainant outside her office premises.

According to the ACB, the officer had allegedly demanded ₹1,000 per month from each of 21 Anganwadi centres under the Metpally Urban Mandal for showing official favour. The amount for three months worked out to ₹63,000, at ₹3,000 from each centre.

During the trap, the officer allegedly directly accepted ₹63,000 from the complainant. The tainted amount was recovered from her possession, the ACB said.

The agency alleged that the officer had demanded and accepted the money in return for not recording adverse remarks while inspecting the Anganwadi centres, thereby misusing her official position.

She is being arrested and produced before the Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases, Karimnagar, for judicial remand. Further investigation is under way.

The identity and other details of the complainant have been withheld for security reasons.