From luxury villas to gold, Telangana ACB sharpens focus on public servants’ disproportionate assets

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

The shift

Data shared by the department with The Hindu showed that between January 1 and July 17, the ACB registered 137 cases, comprising 67 trap cases, 16 DA cases, 18 other corruption cases, and carried out 36 surprise checks. While trap cases continue to account for the bulk of the bureau’s work, officials said the focus has increasingly shifted towards investigating public servants suspected of amassing assets beyond their known sources of income.

The bureau’s data also reflects a steady rise in anti-corruption activity over the past decade. Overall cases more than doubled from 112 in 2016 to 253 in 2025, an increase of nearly 126%. Although the 2026 figures cover only the period up to July 17, the bureau has already registered 137 cases, more than the total recorded in 2016. It also registered a record 77 cases during the April-June quarter this year, the highest for the corresponding quarter since 1983.

The rise in DA cases has been even more striking. From just one case in 2014, the bureau 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 investigating illicit wealth alongside routine bribery.

Among the prominent DA cases this year was that against Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority Chief Engineer B. Ravinder. The the bureau unearthed assets worth about ₹9.24 crore during searches at his residence, office and other locations. It has also registered DA case against Roads & Buildings Engineer-in-Chief Mohan Naik Jarupla and identified ₹17.94 crore assets during searches, and ₹17 crore assets during searches at Survey and Land Records Deputy Director S. Narahari’s residence and locations linked his relatives and others. Hakimpet Tahsildar and Joint Sub-Registrar Thummakomma Sucharita was booked after assets valued at about ₹5.05 crore were detected.

The bureau also registered a DA case against Sankireddy Bheem Reddy, Deputy Superintendent of Police posted at Police Computer Services in Hyderabad, after searches allegedly uncovered extensive movable and immovable assets across Telangana and Karnataka.

“Increased awareness among citizens and the government’s intention to come down heavily against corruption across all departments have been central to the rise in anti-corruption cases over the past years,” said Director General of the Telangana ACB Charu Sinha.

Ms. Sinha said Hyderabad continued to record the highest number of complaints pertaining to corruption, showing citizens’ growing intolerance towards graft, while districts such as Khammam still reported fewer complaints and remained a focus for awareness campaigns.

Corrupt officials at the top of pyramid

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

Preventive vigilance

Preventive vigilance has also expanded. The bureau carried out 29 and 54 surprise checks at government offices in 2024 and 2025 respectively, including at Sub-Registrar Offices, Regional Transport Authority check posts and Welfare hostels. Another 36 surprise checks had already been conducted by July 17 this year.

Telangana ACB’s toll-free number

People can report demands for bribe through the ACB’s toll-free helpline 1064, or through its social media platforms.