Another corruption case against ex-HMDA director Shiva Balakrishna; ACB probes layout GO 170

Hyderabad: The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered another corruption case against former HMDA Director Shiva Balakrishna. This time, on charges of alleged abuse of official position in connection with the alteration of a layout and issuance of a Government Order (GO).

What is the case about?

Shiva Balakrishna was arrested two years ago in a disproportionate assets case.

The latest case has been booked under Section 7(c) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, following a complaint by a woman resident of Telecom Nagar, Gachibowli.

Allegations over GO 170 and master plan changes

According to officials, GO 170 was issued on September 28, 2022, by the Special Chief Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department. At the time, Shiva Balakrishna was serving as Director of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).

The GO reportedly permitted changes to the original master plan based on representations by certain private individuals, who sought land acquisition to connect their properties to a nearby 100-foot road.

However, the complainant alleged that the changes adversely affected her 70-foot plot located in Survey No. 337. She contended that the modification to the master plan was designed in a manner that impacted her property.

High Court’s intervention

Challenging the GO, the complainant approached the High Court in 2022 by filing a writ petition. In December 2022, the court suspended the operation of the GO.

Meanwhile, several buildings have reportedly been constructed in the surrounding layout. The complainant stated that despite applying to HMDA in January 2023 for permission to construct a building on her plot, the application remains pending.

Alleging mala fide intent behind the issuance of the GO, she approached the ACB, accusing Shiva Balakrishna of misuse of official authority.

Preliminary inquiry and MAUD nod

Acting on the complaint, the ACB Director General ordered a preliminary inquiry.

CIU DSP Kamalakar Reddy conducted the inquiry and reportedly found procedural violations and suspicious aspects in the issuance of the GO.

Based on the report, the ACB DG wrote to the MAUD Chief Secretary in August 2024, seeking permission to register a formal case and conduct a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.

On January 7, the MAUD Special Chief Secretary issued a memo approving the registration of a case and further probe.

Focus on note files and a possible wider role

The investigation has now been assigned to CIU DSP Lakshmikant Reddy.

Officials said the note files related to the issuance of the GO will play a crucial role in the probe.

The ACB is expected to write to MAUD seeking these documents.

The examination of these files may also reveal whether other senior officials were involved in the decision-making process.

It may be recalled that Shiva Balakrishna was previously arrested in a Disproportionate Assets case amid allegations that he amassed significant wealth through irregularities in layout approvals under HMDA jurisdiction.

Further investigation is underway.