ACB seizes Rs 5 crore unaccounted cash from Kaleshwaram Project’s EE, more seizures, arrests to come
On the fourth day of Sridhar’s five-day custodial interrogation on Monday, ACB officials opened multiple bank lockers linked to him
By Sistla Dakshina Murthy
ACB raids Noone Sridhar’s bank lockers, finds Rs 5 crore unaccounted cash, gold jewellery
Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has reportedly seized Rs 5 crore in unaccounted cash from bank lockers belonging to Noone Sridhar, an executive engineer associated with the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS).
Cash recovered from multiple lockers
Sources said the cash, all in Rs 500 denomination notes, was recovered from multiple lockers held by Sridhar and his family members. The lockers were opened after ACB officials flagged suspicious transactions while scrutinizing several bank accounts linked to Sridhar.
Engineer’s illegal assets pegged at Rs 200 Crore
Sridhar was arrested on June 12 following extensive raids on properties associated with him. During the searches, the ACB reportedly found disproportionate assets valued at approximately Rs 200 crore.
The properties identified so far include a luxurious villa in Tellapur, Hyderabad, a flat in Shaikpet, Hyderabad, three flats in Karimnagar, commercial complex in Ameerpet, Hyderabad, one property in Warangal, an independent bungalow in Karimnagar, 16 acres of agricultural land, 19 residential plots in prime locations across Hyderabad, Warangal, and Karimnagar.
ACB custody and ongoing interrogation
Currently in ACB custody for five days, Sridhar is undergoing interrogation regarding the source of the recovered assets and cash. Monday marked the fourth day of his custodial interrogation. ACB officials suspect that the seized funds could be linked to kickbacks or misappropriated amounts from the Kaleshwaram project.
Documents, call records under examination
Alongside the cash, ACB officials also recovered several documents from the lockers, which are now being examined. Further investigation into Sridhar’s financial dealings is ongoing. Officials have also begun analyzing call records and chat messages retrieved from his mobile phone.
Based on these findings, the agency is expected to serve notices to individuals believed to have been closely associated with his business and financial activities.
Extension of custody likely
The ACB has indicated that it may seek an extension of Sridhar’s police custody for further questioning. Preliminary inquiries have also revealed that he may have submitted inaccurate declarations about his assets to the government.
Investigation continues
The investigation is ongoing, and more revelations are expected in the coming days.
