The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a disproportionate assets case against Suryapet Municipality Town Planning Officer Vuyyala Somaiah and identified assets worth an estimated ₹3.54 crore during searches conducted at his residence, office and seven other locations on Thursday (September 3).

Somaiah, who is also the in-charge Town Planning Officer of Kodad Municipality, was booked for allegedly acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income through corrupt practices and dubious means.

During the searches, ACB officials found documents relating to three acres and three guntas of agricultural land in Suryapet district and five residential properties in Suryapet district and Hayathnagar. The five properties comprise a G+1 building, a G+2 building, a G+4 building with a penthouse and two ground-floor houses, with an official value of ₹2.75 crore. Documents relating to eight open plots in various locations in Suryapet, valued at ₹2.58 lakh, were also found.

The ACB said the market value of the properties was expected to be higher than their official value.

The searches also resulted in the identification of ₹4.63 lakh in cash, bank balances of ₹13 lakh, 709 grams of gold ornaments and 1,750 grams of silver ornaments valued at around ₹20 lakh. Two four-wheelers and three two-wheelers, valued at approximately ₹25.20 lakh, were also identified, along with household articles and electronic gadgets worth around ₹11 lakh.

The ACB said Somaiah had also availed a gold loan of ₹49 lakh by pledging 66.9 tolas of gold with a bank.

Officers from the Telangana ACB during the searches.

By Arrangement

Further verification of additional assets is underway. Somaiah is being produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases at Hyderabad for judicial remand. The case is under investigation.