Telangana ACB Traces More Suspected Benami Assets

• ACB searches five locations in NIMS doctor’s DA case.
• ₹4.94 lakh cash recovered from NIMS employee’s residence.
• ₹2.7 crore Banjara Hills plot comes under scrutiny.
• Earlier searches found eight flats, gold and luxury vehicles.

GG News Bureau
Hyderabad, 30th Sept: The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has intensified its investigation into the alleged disproportionate assets of Dr Sri Nori Lakshmi Bhasker, Additional Medical Superintendent and Additional Professor at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS), Hyderabad.

Acting on search warrants issued by the Principal Special Judge for Special Police Establishment and ACB Cases, Hyderabad, ACB teams searched five locations in and around Hyderabad as part of the ongoing probe.

The searches reportedly uncovered property documents, cash, investment portfolios and financial records allegedly linked to suspected benamis and associates of the accused medical officer.

₹4.94 lakh cash recovered
The ACB recovered ₹4.94 lakh in cash from the residence of Dhanraj, a barber working at NIMS Government Hospital.

Investigators are examining his alleged financial links with Bhasker and whether the cash is connected to assets under scrutiny.

The agency also recovered documents relating to three agricultural land parcels in Maheswaram, with an estimated market value of around ₹57 lakh. The ownership and source of funds used to acquire the properties are being verified.

₹2.7 crore Banjara Hills plot under probe
Another property under scrutiny is an open plot in the Venkateswara Cooperative Housing Society in MLA Colony, Banjara Hills, with a book value of approximately ₹2.7 crore. Its market value is reportedly substantially higher.

The property was allegedly linked to D Ganesh, an outsourcing employee, and other associates. Investigators are examining whether the property was allegedly held on behalf of the accused.

The searches also traced two investment portfolios worth ₹20 lakh and receipts relating to hand loans totalling ₹3 lakh.

Earlier searches uncovered flats and other assets
The latest searches follow ACB searches conducted on September 22 at eight locations in Hyderabad, including Bhasker’s residence in Erragadda and premises linked to his relatives, friends and associates.

During those searches, investigators found documents relating to eight residential flats — one four-bedroom flat in a high-rise gated community, two three-bedroom flats in Kukatpally and five two-bedroom flats in Manikonda, Petbasheerabad and Kukatpally.

The agency also identified four open plots in Yadadri, Nandigama and Shamirpet, besides an 800-square-yard plot in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Gold, cars and financial investments traced
The ACB also identified financial assets allegedly linked to the official, including ₹41 lakh in bank balances, ₹12 lakh in post office deposits, ₹35 lakh invested in private financial institutions and ₹29.55 lakh in mutual funds.

Investigators further reported finding around 517.8 grams of gold ornaments, three cars, including a Jaguar, Audi and Tata Nexon, four two-wheelers and electronic gadgets valued at about ₹5 lakh.

According to the agency, Bhasker had also invested ₹1.30 crore in a flat involved in proceedings before the Debt Recovery Tribunal and extended ₹1.33 crore as hand loans to various individuals.

DA case registered on September 21
The disproportionate assets case was registered against Bhasker on September 21 under Section 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The latest searches are aimed at tracing the alleged money trail and determining whether properties and financial assets were held in the names of other individuals.

The ACB is continuing to verify the documents, property ownership and financial transactions. The alleged roles of Dhanraj, D Ganesh and other suspected benamis or associates are also under examination.

The overall market value of the assets linked to the case could be substantially higher than their recorded or book values. However, the final valuation, ownership and alleged linkage of the assets will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation.