Searches were conducted on 24 January by as many as 18 ACB teams at his residence and 16 other places belonging to him, his relatives, friends, and other associates.
Balakrishna’s residence in Puppalaguda in Manikonda of Rangareddy district. (Supplied)
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Shiva Balakrishna, former director (Planning) of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) at 3 am on Thursday, 25 January, after a 24-hour search at his residence and other premises linked to him.
A Disproportionate Assets case was registered against Balakrishna, 54, Planning Officer in the Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) and former director in HMDA, as he has acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income by indulging in corrupt practices and dubious means during his service, informed ACB officials.
As this is an offence punishable under Section 13(1) (b) and 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), searches were conducted on 24 January by as many as 18 ACB teams at his residence in Puppalaguda in the Rangareddy district, and 16 other places belonging to him, his relatives, friends, and other associates.
During the searches, cash of ₹99,60,850, gold ornaments weighing 1,988 gm, and silver ornaments weighing around 6 kg were found in his house and other places.
Further, documents relating to movable and immovable properties worth around ₹5,96,27,495 were also found during searches. The value of the properties found are worth about ₹8,26,48,999, as per the government value.
It is to be noted that the market value of the movable, as well as immovable properties, are likely to be significantly higher than the document value. According to ACB officials, verification of additional assets is underway.
Balakrishna was arrested and produced before the Additional Special Judge for Special Police Establishment and Anti-Corruption Bureau cases. The ACB is likely to seek his custody for further investigation.
The ACB said that Balakrishna’s family did not initially cooperate when the searches began on Wednesday.
Balakrishna is now the secretary of Telangana Real Estate Regulatory Authority. He was transferred out of the HMDA after the Assembly elections. He had served as Director (Planning) of the HMDA for more than three years.
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