Telangana: Disproportionate Assets Case Registered Against Govt Official After ACB Raids

The ACB searches reportedly yielded a net cash amount of Rs 99,60,850 along with the discovery of gold ornaments weighing 1,988 grams, silver ornaments weighing 6 kg.

A disproportionate assets case was registered against Siva Balakrishna, Planning Officer in Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd and former director of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), for acquiring assets disproportionate to his known source of income by indulging in "corrupt" practices. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Telangana on Thursday claimed that they have found assets of Rs 8 crore as per government value and Rs 1 crore in cash during searches against the official.

Following this, the police arrested the official on Thursday.

In a release, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) revealed that the market value of both movable and immovable properties far exceeds their documented values. As part of an ongoing investigation into additional assets, searches were conducted on Wednesday at the officer's residence and 16 other locations associated with his relatives, friends, and associates.

The officer "has acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income by indulging in corrupt practices and dubious means during his service," it said.

These searches yielded a net cash amount of Rs 99,60,850, along with the discovery of gold ornaments weighing 1,988 grams, silver ornaments weighing approximately six kilograms in various locations, including the officer's house. Additionally, documents related to movable and immovable properties valued at around Rs six crore (Rs 5,96,27,495) were found, according to a report on PTI.

In response to the severity of the offence under the Prevention of Corruption Act, searches were conducted at the accused officer's house and the residences of 16 other individuals connected to him, including relatives and associates, on Wednesday. The discovered evidence led to the arrest of the accused officer, who is currently being presented before a local court, as stated in the release.

ACB sources reported on Wednesday that during the searches on premises linked to the official, they uncovered Rs 40 lakh in cash and properties and other valuables valued at Rs 100 crore.

Siva Balakrishna is Secretary of Telangana State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TSRERA) and he previously served as the former Director of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).