Telangana ACB books HMDA Chief Engineer, detects Rs 9.24 crore assets during searches

Hyderabad, Jul 14 (PTI) The ACB on Tuesday said it registered a case of Disproportionate Assets against a Chief Engineer of HMDA and found assets worth over Rs 9.24 crore during searches conducted at his residence and places belonging to his relatives and other associates. The accused officer, who was arrested, will be produced before a city court for judicial remand, ACB sources said. The case of Disproportionate Assets to the known sources of income was registered against B Ravinder, Chief Engineer, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), as he acquired assets allegedly by indulging in corrupt practices and dubious means during his service, Telangana's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) said in a release. As the offence is punishable under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), preliminary searches were conducted on Tuesday at Ravinder's residence, office and nine other places belonging to his relatives, associates and "benamidars", the ACB said. During the searches, several property documents including five open plots, four residential flats, four acre agricultural land, one semi-furnished residential villa, and one Ground plus Four (G+4) building were found, and the market value of the properties is expected to be much higher than the official value, the ACB said. Furthermore, Rs 3.82 lakh in cash, bank balances amounting to approximately Rs 45 lakh, gold ornaments weighing about 1,440 grams, silver ornaments of about 12.5 kg, household articles, electronic gadgets besides four vehicles were identified. The total assets are estimated at about Rs 9.24 crore, the ACB said. Further verification regarding additional assets is underway. The case is under investigation. PTI VVK VVK SA