Water Board GM’s Rs 100 cr trail

metro india news  I hyderabad

In a massive anti-corruption crackdown, the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday carried out simultaneous raids on properties linked to Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) General Manager S.L. Kumar in a disproportionate assets case. The searches, conducted at nearly eight locations across Hyderabad and surrounding districts, reportedly led to the seizure of over Rs 1.05 crore cash, huge quantities of gold and silver ornaments, property documents and financial records.

The raids were conducted at Kumar’s residence in Mallapur, Secunderabad, along with other premises connected to his relatives, associates and suspected benami holders. Sources said ACB officials were stunned after discovering bundles of cash stacked inside the residence, forcing them to use currency-counting machines during the operation. Officials also recovered gold ornaments weighing over two kilograms, several kilograms of silver articles, bank documents, land papers, one car and a bike during the searches.

According to investigators, Kumar, who is serving as General Manager (Engineering) in HMWSSB Project Division-VIII, is suspected of accumulating massive wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. Preliminary findings suggest the officer allegedly amassed assets worth close to Rs 100 crore in market value over the years. 

Among the properties identified so far are three flats in a gated community in Hyderabad, six open plots on the city outskirts and agricultural lands in Nizamabad district. However, ACB officials stated that the official documentary value of the assets identified till now stands at over Rs 5.88 crore, while the market value could be significantly higher.

Officials are now expected to examine bank lockers, transaction records and additional assets allegedly linked to the officer and his family members. Sources indicated that the investigation may widen further based on documents seized during the raids. The searches continued till late evening on Tuesday.

The sensational case has triggered fresh debate over corruption in civic departments handling large public infrastructure works and contracts. According to retired vigilance officials and anti-corruption experts, if a General Manager-level officer could allegedly build assets running into several crores through illegal means, it raises serious concerns about the scale of corruption at higher bureaucratic and engineering levels. Experts say such cases indicate the possible existence of deep-rooted kickback networks involving contractors, commissions and inflated project works, particularly in departments dealing with urban utilities and infrastructure.