Rs 50 lakh assets unearthed in ACB raid in Vizianagaram

Vizianagaram, Sept 11:

 Officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (Acb) raided the bungalow of Vizianagaram District Chief Town Planning Officer Prakasa Rao on Friday morning. The Acb detected disproportionate assets to the tune of Rs 50 lakh in the raid on the bungalow and two other premises based on a tip-off. Acb officials lodged case against Prakasa Rao under the Anti Corruption Act on the basis of the search.

The raiding team, headed by Acb DySP Ravi Kumar, began a search in the morning at Prakasa Rao’s bungalow at Vizianagaram and his relative houses in Srikakulam. During the raid the officials found that Prakasa Rao had properties in excess of his known sources of income. Sources in Acb said the chief town planning officer has three houses in Vizianagaram district.

Sources said that the bank accounts as well as lockers belonging to Prakasa Rao and his close aides were being checked. Ravi Kumar said that the Acb officials had done a survey of his assets before initiating the search operation, and then got a warrant against the accused to nab him with adequate evidence. Officials said they were likely of coming across more assets in terms of cash and jewellery.

In another incident, the Acb sleuths caught red-handed when a Divisional Engineer of Repalle in Guntur district accepting a bribe of Rs 5,000 from a person. According to the sources, the divisional engineer Subrahmanyam demanded Rs 5,000 for extending an official favour. Following this the person lodged a complaint with the Acb, who laid a trap and arrested the accused while taking bribe from the complainant.