ACB unearths assets worth Rs 75 lakh in raids

Hyderabad, Nov 20 (UNI) ACB officials today unearthed disproportionate assets worth more than Rs 75 lakh during simultaneous raids at the office and several houses of Mines and Geology Department Assistant Director Kadiam Ramchandraiah.

According to a press release here, the ACB searched his office at Tandur and residences in Hyderabad, Nalgonda town and native village Nagaram in Nalgonda district.

The immovable properties, include houses, flats, plots and farm lands worth Rs 48.75 lakh and movable assets like gold ornaments valued Rs three lakh, cash of Rs 24,000, one car worth Rs four lakh, one scooter worth Rs 15,000, bank balance of Rs 1.50 lakh, investments on money lending Rs six lakh, investments in insurances, chits and finance worth Rs 4.02 lakh, household articles in his houses at Nalgonda and Hyderabad, to the tune of Rs nine lakh, among other things.

All movable assets were worth Rs 27.91 lakh, the release said adding the searches were continuing.

ACB officials, in an another raid, recovered unaccounted amount of Rs 31,520 following a surprise check at the Penukonda Transport Checkpost in Anantapur district. During the check Rs 26,620 was recovered from Motor Vehicles Inspector K Ravindra Kumar, Transport Constable B V Chalapathi and private individuals. An amount of Rs 4,900, which was collected from drivers/cleaners, was also seized from a table drawer. Necessary action was being initiated against the officers and staff of transport checkpost. ACB officials yesterday arrested Pedavegi Mandal Tahsildar Mallapu Ravindra Kumar at his residence when he accepted a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a complainant for doing an official favour.

The tainted amount was recovered from his possession. The accused would be produced before Special Judge for SPE and ACB cases, Vijayawada.

Meanwhile, the state government ordered imposition of penalty of reduction to next lower post against former Iragavaram Assistant Sub-Inspector A Venkateswara Rao on the basis of enquiry report of TDP.

The accused was trapped by ACB officials on August 19, 1998, at his residence when he accepted the bribe of Rs 500 from a complainant for doing an official favour, the release added.

UNI VA ROY KK KN1810