From luxury villas to gold, Telangana ACB targets government employees’ disproportionate assets

Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) Headquarters at Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. | Photo credit: NAGARA GOPAL

Behind the luxury villas, land banks, cash and gold unearthed in some of Telangana’s biggest anti-corruption raids this year is a clear shift in strategy. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has already registered 16 disproportionate assets (DA) cases till July 17, which has already surpassed the total recorded in the whole of 2025 and is close to a ten-year high of 18 cases registered in 2022.

Shift

Data shared by the department with The Hindu showed that between January 1 and July 17, the ACB registered 137 cases, including 67 entrapment cases, 16 DA cases, 18 other corruption cases and conducted 36 surprise checks. While entrapment cases continue to make up the bulk of the bureau’s work, officials said the focus is increasingly shifting to investigating state employees suspected of amassing assets beyond their known sources of income.

The bureau’s figures also reflect a steady increase in anti-corruption activity over the past decade. The total number of cases more than doubled from 112 in 2016 to 253 in 2025, an increase of almost 126%. Although the 2026 figures only cover the period up to July 17, the authority has already registered 137 cases, more than the total recorded in 2016. This year’s April-June quarter also saw a record 77 cases, the most for the corresponding quarter since 1983.

Cash seized during raids conducted by Telangana ACB | Photo credit: By arrangement

The increase in DA cases was even more striking. From just one case in 2014, the agency registered 11 DA cases in 2024 and 15 in 2025 before touching a record 16 by July 17 this year, indicating a growing focus on probing ill-gotten wealth alongside routine bribery.

Among the DA’s prominent cases this year was that against Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority Chief Engineer B. Ravinder. The agency discovered assets worth about ₹9.24 crore during searches at his residence, office and other places. It also registered a DA case against Chief Engineer of Roads and Buildings Mohan Naik Jarupla and identified assets worth ₹17.94 crore and during searches at the residence and places of Deputy Director of Survey and Land Records S. Narahari and another ₹17 crore of assets. Hakimpet Tahsildar and joint sub-registrar Thummakomma Sucharita were booked after assets worth around ₹5.05 crore were found.

The authority also registered a DA case against Sankireddy Bheem Reddy, an Assistant Superintendent of Police posted at the Police Computer Services in Hyderabad, after searches allegedly revealed extensive movable and immovable assets in Telangana and Karnataka.

Cash, gold seized during raids conducted by Telangana ACB | Photo credit: By arrangement

“Increased awareness among citizens and the government’s intention to crack down heavily on corruption across all departments have been instrumental in the rise in anti-corruption cases in recent years,” said Telangana ACB Director General Charu Sinha.

Ms Sinha said Hyderabad continued to record the highest number of corruption-related complaints, indicating a growing intolerance among citizens for bribery, while districts such as Khammam still reported fewer complaints and remained the target of awareness campaigns.

Corrupt officials at the top of the pyramid

A senior ACB official said the agency’s strategy is to target officials suspected of amassing the highest levels of illegal wealth. “The aim is not to catch every corrupt official, which may not be practically possible, but to identify those at the top of the pyramid. Cracking down on such officials sends a strong message across departments and acts as a deterrent,” the official said.

YearTotal number of cases2014 (June 2 – December 31)9720152282016112201763201814020191852020862021832022107202387202418120252532 July 17) 137 Total 1,759

Preventive vigilance

Preventive vigilance has also expanded. The authority carried out 29 and 54 unannounced inspections at government offices in 2024 and 2025, respectively, including sub-registry offices, regional transport authority checkpoints and welfare hostels. Another 36 unexpected checks were already carried out by July 17 of this year.

Telangana ACB Toll Free Number

People can report bribe claims through ACB’s toll-free helpline 1064 or through its social media platforms.

Published – 21 Jul 2026 12:16 IST