Hyderabad: ACB officials arrested Hyderabad Water Board Engineering General Manager Saggam Anantha Lakshmi Kumar in a disproportionate assets case and shifted him to Chanchalguda Central Jail after a court ordered judicial remand.
The ACB Special Court in Nampally remanded the official to 14 days of judicial custody on Wednesday after officials produced him before the court following medical examinations.
Officials are also preparing to seek custody of the accused for further investigation.
Water Board GM arrested after ACB searches
Lakshmi Kumar currently serves as General Manager of Red Hills Project Division-8 in the Hyderabad Water Board.
ACB officials conducted simultaneous searches on Tuesday at nine locations linked to the officer, his relatives and alleged benamis.
During the investigation, officials questioned him about large amounts of cash and documents related to movable and immovable assets seized during the raids.
However, investigators said the official failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the assets. Consequently, ACB officers arrested him on Wednesday morning in a disproportionate assets case.
Water Board GM case uncovers massive assets
During the searches at Lakshmi Kumar’s residence in Mallapur, ACB officials seized ₹1.10 crore in cash, 2.1 kilograms of gold and 9.2 kilograms of silver.
Investigators also identified 18 acres of agricultural land in Nizamabad and Sangareddy districts.
In addition, officials seized documents related to three flats, six plots and an independent house located in premium gated communities in Hyderabad.
According to registration records, the assets carried a documented value of ₹5.88 crore. However, ACB officials estimated that the current market value exceeded ₹100 crore.
Investigators alleged that the officer accumulated the assets through corrupt practices during his service.
Water Board GM likely to face further probe
ACB officials are expected to file a petition seeking custody of the accused for detailed interrogation.
Investigators believe further questioning could reveal details about alleged benamis, contractors and other officials linked to the illegal assets network within the Water Board.
Officials suspect that deeper investigation may expose corruption involving contractors and senior officials connected to the accused officer.