ACB raids Hyderabad water board GM’s properties, finds Rs 1.1cr cash, 2kg gold and assets linked to Rs 50cr empire

HYDERABAD: Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths Tuesday arrested a general manager of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) after unearthing disproportionate assets worth Rs 5.88 crore during simultaneous searches at his residence in Mallapur and eight other locations across the state. According to ACB officials, the market value of the assets is estimated to be nearly Rs 50 crore.

The accused official, Saggam Anantha Laxmi Kumar, 58, is General Manager (engineering), Project Division-VIII, Red Hills, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB)

The ACB registered a Disproportionate Assets (DA) case against Kumar on Monday following a preliminary inquiry into allegations that he had amassed assets far exceeding his known sources of income through corrupt practices.

Subsequently, after booking the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act, special ACB teams conducted searches at Kumar's residence in Mallapur and at eight other premises linked to his relatives, friends, benamis and associates in Hyderabad and Nizamabad.

During the searches, officials discovered assets worth more than Rs 5.88 crore, including documents related to 18 acres of agricultural land in Navipet and Bodhan in Nizamabad district, and Cheryal in Sangareddy district. The seized properties also included six plots in Maheshwaram, three flats in Uppal, and a G+3 residential building in Mallapur.

The ACB also recovered Rs 1.1 crore in cash, 2.1 kg gold ornaments and 9.2 kg silver articles from Kumar's residence. A Maruti Ritz hatchback and a motorcycle were also seized.

"The market value of the seized assets is expected to be several times higher than the documented value of Rs 5.88 crore. Verification of additional assets is still underway. The case remains under investigation," ACB joint director Sindhu Sharma said in an official statement.

The accused officer was arrested and will be produced before a court for judicial remand. ACB teams are continuing scrutiny of documents and other records.

Officials said Kumar's wife is a homemaker and the couple's two daughters are married. The ACB is yet to open bank lockers belonging to Kumar and his family members.

"Further searches and scrutiny of documents may lead to the discovery of additional assets. The overall market value of the assets is estimated to be around Rs 50 crore. There are also allegations that Kumar was involved in the illegal supply of water tankers to apartment complexes at exorbitant prices. However, at present, the investigation is focussed only on the disproportionate assets case," an ACB investigator said.