Telangana ACB books Tahsildar in DA case, finds assets worth Rs 6.87 cr

The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau on Thursday, August 20 has estimated the assets of a Tahsildar at Rs 6.87 crore after registering a disproportionate assets case against him and conducting searches at his residence, office and five other locations linked to his relatives and associates.

The case was registered against D Srinivas Reddy, currently working as a divisional administrative officer in Ibrahimpatnam, for allegedly accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income through corrupt practices and dubious means during his service, the ACB said in a release.

As the alleged offence attracts provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, ACB officials conducted searches at multiple locations on Thursday.

During the searches, officials recovered documents relating to two residential flats valued at Rs 2.63 crore and a ground-plus-three penthouse valued at Rs 1.61 crore. They also found documents pertaining to 10 acres of agricultural land and eight open plots in various locations in Hyderabad and its outskirts, the agency said.

Reddy had also invested Rs 86 lakh as his share in a bar and restaurant in partnership with others, according to the ACB. The agency said the market value of the properties and other assets was expected to be substantially higher than their official value.

The searches further yielded Rs 4 lakh in cash, bank balances amounting to Rs 8.6 lakh, 680 grams of gold jewellery, three four-wheelers and two two-wheelers. Household articles and electronic gadgets were also found, the agency said.

The ACB said verification was continuing to identify any additional assets allegedly acquired by Reddy.

The officer is expected to be produced before a court here for judicial remand, while the investigation remains underway.

The agency also noted that a disproportionate assets case had previously been registered against Reddy in December 2009, when he was serving as a mandal revenue inspector.

(With inputs from PTI)