Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Oct 10: The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a state civil supplies department assistant manager for allegedly accumulating assets worth Rs 9.41 crore disproportionate to his known sources of income, with their estimated market value running into several times that amount, officials said on Saturday.
The accused, Vasamsetti Narasimha Rao, works as an assistant manager (technical) in the civil supplies department and is currently serving as district manager in Mahabubabad district.
According to an official statement issued by ACB director general Charu Sinha, teams conducted searches at seven locations linked to Rao on Friday. Searches were also carried out at properties allegedly belonging to his suspected benamis, or individuals believed to be holding assets on his behalf.
A senior ACB official said the searches continued until late evening and that the market value of the properties belonging to Rao and his suspected benamis could be substantially higher than their recorded values. The official estimated the combined market value at nearly Rs 100 crore.
The case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
During the searches, investigators identified residential buildings, agricultural land, open plots, vehicles, gold and silver ornaments, household articles and other valuables.
Five open plots measuring a total of 1,230.16 square yards were identified at Ballepalli, Raghunathapalem and Velugumatla in Khammam district. Registered in the names of Rao and his wife, the plots have a combined registration value of Rs 30.72 lakh.
The ACB also identified agricultural properties in Suryapet district, including about 1.08 acres at Kalmala Chervu, 21.3 acres at Sirikonda and two parcels measuring 5.31 acres each at Namavaram in Mothe mandal.
The combined registered value of these agricultural properties was approximately Rs 1.17 crore, though the ACB found that the agreement values of some properties were significantly higher.
The 21.3-acre property at Sirikonda had a registered value of Rs 76 lakh against an agreement value of Rs 6.54 crore. Similarly, each of the two properties at Namavaram had a registered value of Rs 19.25 lakh, while the agreement value was Rs 1.92 crore for each parcel.
Investigators also identified three residential properties: a ground-plus-two-storey reinforced cement concrete (RCC) building and a ground-plus-four-storey RCC building at Kaviraj Nagar in Khammam, and a three-storey building at Sagar Enclave in Bairamalguda, LB Nagar, Hyderabad. The properties, held in the names of Rao, his wife and his father-in-law, have a combined documented value of Rs 1.58 crore.
The movable assets identified included a Hyundai Creta car valued at Rs 18.49 lakh, a TVS Jupiter scooter worth Rs 1.05 lakh and a Honda Activa scooter valued at Rs 50,000.
The ACB also listed household articles worth Rs 33.48 lakh, around 360.97 grams of gold ornaments and 331.58 grams of silver ornaments with a combined estimated value of Rs 9.39 lakh. Cash amounting to Rs 15,600 was seized from Rao’s residence.
According to the bureau’s preliminary property statement, the total value of assets identified so far stands at approximately Rs 9.41 crore. Officials said the market value of the immovable properties could be substantially higher than their registered values.
The ACB is also investigating allegations that Rao acquired a rice mill in another person’s name as benami property. Sinha said investigators were verifying the suspected asset’s ownership, the source of investment and the financial transactions linked to its acquisition.
Officials are examining Rao’s bank accounts and lockers to determine whether he holds additional assets. Transactions linked to certain businesses have also come under scrutiny.
The bureau said the final extent of the alleged disproportionate assets would be established after the searches are completed and financial records and property documents are examined. Investigators are also working to determine the actual ownership of the identified properties and the sources of funds used to acquire them.
Rao joined the civil supplies department as a technical assistant in 2011 and subsequently served in Khammam and Nirmal before taking up his present responsibilities in Mahabubabad.
The ACB said its preliminary findings indicated that Rao had allegedly accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income during his 15 years in service. Further investigation is underway.