AP High Court stays release of Rs 1.67 crore seized gold in two Disproportionate Assets cases
Seized gold ornaments in both disproportionate assets cases will remain in ACB custody until further orders
By Newsmeter Network
Seized gold ornaments in both disproportionate assets cases will remain in ACB custody until further orders
Amaravati: In a significant development in two disproportionate assets (DA) cases, the High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati on Monday granted favourable interim relief to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) by staying orders of the Special ACB Court, Vijayawada.
The court had also directed the release of seized gold ornaments to the accused and their family members on furnishing relatively small surety amounts.
The High Court passed the interim stay orders after hearing revision petitions filed by the ACB challenging the directions issued by the Special Judge for SPE&ACB Cases, Vijayawada.
Gold worth Rs 1.05 crore in APMSIDC case
In one case (Cr. No. 8/RCA-ACB-VJA/2025 dated November 20, 2025), registered against Malladi Vijaya Suryakala, General Manager, APMSIDC, Mangalagiri, the Special ACB Court had, on February 6, directed the ACB Investigating Officer to release seized gold ornaments worth approximately Rs 1.05 crore.
The release was ordered on the condition that the accused furnish a surety amount of only Rs 1 lakh towards interim custody.
Challenging the order as disproportionate and prejudicial to the ongoing investigation, the ACB moved the High Court seeking intervention.
Rs 62.12 lakh of gold in VUDA case
In another case (Cr. No. 2/RCA-ACB-VJA/2018 dated January 19, 2018) against Pasuparthy Pradeep Kumar, Additional Chief Urban Planner, VUDA, Visakhapatnam, the Special Court had issued interim custody orders on December 3, 2025, January 12 and January 29.
The lower court had directed the ACB to hand over seized gold ornaments valued at approximately Rs 62.12 lakh to the applicants on furnishing a surety of Rs 1.5 lakh.
The ACB challenged these impugned orders before the High Court, contending that the release of high-value seized property on minimal surety could adversely affect the prosecution.
High Court grants interim stay
Acting on the revision petitions filed by the ACB, the High Court of Andhra Pradesh has now stayed the operation of the impugned interim custody orders in both cases.
With the stay in place, the seized gold ornaments in both disproportionate assets cases will remain in ACB custody until further orders.
The matter is expected to come up for further hearing later.
