Bribe is a part of government officials job

HYDERABAD: The country is going through a 'scam age' as around 20 corruption cases have been exposed in the last four years, retired IPS officer V Appa Rao has said.Delivering the 16th Prof S Venugopala Rao Memorial Lecture on 'Some Facets of Corruption' at the AP Police Academy on Monday, he called upon all trainee policemen to work with commitment and dedication in future. Appa Rao also cautioned all trainee officers to do their duties with honesty or the law would eventually catch up. "Since the beginning of society, there has been corruption at various levels. But now it cannot be divided from the administration," he said. Government officials taking bribe has become like a part of their job like fish getting life from the water, he added. He pointed out that many Group-I aspirants are opting for departments where they will be able to get 'extra' income like excise, transport, vigilance & enforcement. "It is clear that they are preparing to be corrupted," the former IPS officer said in a tongue-incheek observation.Padmashree Dr S Subramanian, retired directorgeneral, CRPF and NSG and founder patron of the Vigilance Study Circle, Hyderabad said, "Venugopala Rao was a great visionary officer as he introduced the system of computerising crime records. Dr Manimala, daughter of Venugopala Rao said her father was not only a sincere police officer but also a social reformist as he encouraged many rural women to get educated.APPA director, N Sambasiva Rao, special director Rajiv Trivedi also spoke.