The Anti-Corruption Bureau in Telangana on Thursday arrested town planning officer Shiva Balakrishna after concluding searches that lasted over 24 hours at his residence and 16 other locations. The 54-year-old, currently working as the planning officer in Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL), is also the secretary of Telangana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) and had earlier worked as the director in Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). According to an official statement, the ACB recovered net cash of Rs 99.6 lakh, gold ornaments weighing 1,988 gram, and silver ornaments weighing 6 kg from his residence and other locations. They also recovered documents relating to movable and immovable assets worth around Rs 5.96 crore during the searches. The value of properties found during the searches is about Rs 8.26 crore as per the government rates and the market value of the movable as well as immovable properties could be many times higher than the document value, and further verification of additional assets is underway, ACB said in an official note. The ACB sleuths booked a case of disproportionate assets after finding evidence of his assets and earnings disproportionate to his known sources of income. Simultaneous searches began early Wednesday morning at his Puppalagadda residence and 16 other locations belonging to his relatives, friends and associates. He is found to have made illegal assets by indulging in corrupt practices and dubious means during his service, the anti-graft agency said. During the searches, the sleuths also seized 14 cell phones, 10 laptops, and other electronic gadgets that are now being examined. Officials will also check bank lockers as part of further investigation. Balakrishna is being produced in court on Thursday.
