Hyderabad: The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered a REDCO engineer disproportionate assets case against Mutyam Venkata Ramana, Divisional Engineer, Renewable Energy Development Corporation (REDCO), Khairatabad. The ACB alleged that he amassed assets disproportionate to his known sources of income through corrupt practices and dubious means.
The ACB searched his residence, office and seven other locations linked to his relatives, associates and benamidars on Tuesday. It booked the case under Sections 13(1)(b) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.
During the searches, officers found documents relating to four residential flats in Serilingampally and Kukatpally worth ₹1.23 crore. They also identified a G+3 commercial building at Anjaneya Nagar, Kukatpally, valued at ₹1.82 crore. In addition, they found a G+5 commercial building at Guttala Begumpet village in GHMC Serilingampally worth ₹2.90 crore.
Further enquiries revealed that Ramana invested in the construction sector through four firms registered in his wife’s name. Investigators also found that he had constructed 10 residential apartments at Anjaneya Nagar, Moosapet, with an estimated investment of ₹20 crore. The ACB said the market value of the properties could be much higher than their official value.
REDCO engineer disproportionate assets include properties and investments
Meanwhile, officers detected bank balances of ₹52.02 lakh. They also found gold ornaments weighing 2,094 grams worth about ₹40 lakh. Besides, they identified three vehicles valued at around ₹45 lakh. Officers seized household articles and electronic gadgets worth ₹30 lakh. They also found 20 liquor bottles valued at about ₹2.5 lakh.
The ACB estimated the assets identified during the searches at ₹27.65 crore. Further verification to identify additional assets is underway.
Earlier, the ACB arrested Ramana on December 13, 2019, in a trap case while he served as Divisional Engineer (Technical) in the Cyber City Circle. The agency alleged that he demanded and accepted a ₹25,000 bribe for forwarding and processing a final estimation approval file.
During the searches in the 2019 case, officers seized ₹26.52 lakh in cash and gold ornaments worth ₹22.60 lakh. The ACB estimated his total assets at ₹28.14 crore at that time.
The ACB said it would produce the accused before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB cases in Hyderabad for judicial remand. The case remains under investigation.