The Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested an official from the state Tourism department on Wednesday on charges of holding disproportionate assets. The accused, R Siva Rao (55), a native of Kankipadu, has been working as Estate Officer in the department with the rank of Tehsildar.
The ACB unearthed as many as 14 housing plots, two flats in and around Vijayawada, along with two houses and one room with RCC roof, and a plot measuring 0.96 cents. Most of these properties were in the Krishna and Capital region of Guntur district. Apart from this, Rs 18 lakh in cash, 793 grams of gold, one kg of silver ornaments, and life insurance policies were seized. The seized properties are said to be worth Rs 80 crore as per the current market value.
According to ACB officials, Rao started his career as a typist in the Revenue department in 1986 and was promoted to Tehsildar after serving in different positions.
Another crucial allegation against Rao is that he tampered with the revenue land records while he was working as the Vijayawada Urban Tehsildar. According to a statement from RP Thakur, DG in the ACB office, Rao allegedly changed the land enjoyer’s name in the revenue records.
Rao allegedly changed the title for 1.5 acres allotted to freedom fighter Kesireddy Suryanarayana in the Adangal (document) to a person called Abdul Masthan. ACB officials also claimed that their investigation found that General Power of Attorney for 0.75 cents (or 50% of that land) had been given to Siva Rao’s relative as bribe.
Speaking to TNM, Addl SP of ACB Ramadevi said that the accused has been sent to remand on Thursday and further investigation is underway in the case.
In another incident, reports said that a grade III employee of the Municipality department was arrested in Vishakhapatnam for allegedly possessing disproportionate assets worth Rs 20 crore.