Disproportionate Assets Case: ACB arrests Kaleshwaram former ENC

Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials have registered a case of disproportionate assets to the known sources of income that was registered against Bhookya Hari Ram, former Engineer in Chief, Irrigation & CAD Department, Gajwel.

The accused officer had acquired assets by indulging in unlawful practices and dubious means during his service. Hariram, currently serving as the managing director of the Kaleshwaram Corporation and ENC for the Gajwel region, was involved in securing approvals and loans for KLIS.

Hari Ram’s wife, B Anitha, serves as deputy ENC in the Irrigation department. Searches were conducted at the house of the accused officer and his relatives in13 other locations, including Kothagudem and Edurugadda village in Bhadradri Kothagudem district.

The ACB raid comes after the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) submitted its report on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) project and the reasons behind the sinking of some piers of the Medigadda barrage.

During the searches, several properties included a villa at Shaik pet, a villa at Kondapur, a flat in Srinagar, a flat in Madhapur, flat in Narsingi, commercial space at Amaravathi, 28 acres of agricultural land at Markook mandal, 20 guntas in Patancheru.

The other property details include two independent houses in Srinagar Colony, Hyderabad, one farm house on 6 acres with a mango garden at Bommalaramaram, one building under construction at Kothagudem, an open plot in Qutubullapur, an open plot in Miryalaguda, two four wheelers including one BMW car, Gold ornaments and Bank deposits were unearthed.

The searches revealed that the above-accused officer had acquired these movable and immovable properties by abusing his official position. The searches are still going on. The market value of the movable and immovable property seized is estimated to be in the hundreds of crores.

The accused officer was arrested and sent to judicial remand. Further investigation is in progress, the ACB officials said. The ACB officials urged people to call 1064 (toll-free number) to report any public servant asking for a bribe. The name and details of the complainant will be kept confidential