A case of alleged misuse of public office has emerged in Telangana, where the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) raided 13 locations linked to Nune Sridhar, an executive engineer with the state’s irrigation department.
Sridhar, currently embroiled in a disproportionate-assets investigation, allegedly spent crores on a high-profile destination wedding for his son in Thailand. The ACB also discovered a villa, three independent buildings, 19 expensively situated residential plots, multiple flats, and stakes in several hotels far exceeding his salary-based wealth.
Assets Far Exceeding Known Income Sources
The raids revealed shocking details: a 4,500 sq ft apartment in Hyderabad’s upscale Sky High complex; additional flats in Karimnagar; and a luxury villa in Tellapur. Investigators also uncovered three independent buildings across Warangal, Karimnagar, and Hyderabad, along with 19 high-value residential plots and 16 acres of agricultural land.
Significantly, Sridhar holds ownership stakes in multiple hotels in Karimnagar and possesses substantial cash, jewellery, and bank deposits, assets that reportedly cannot be reconciled with his salary.
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Connection to Kaleshwaram Project and Wider Implications
As part of the probe, ACB investigators are combing through financial records, property documents, and transaction timelines to uncover potential benami holdings or irregularities in project contracts. The investigation comes amid broader scrutiny of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, one of the world’s largest such initiatives, which has been embroiled in multiple corruption allegations.
Earlier reports indicated that the project’s faulty execution caused structural failures, including the collapse of piers, triggering recommendations from the Vigilance Commission that senior engineers and contract firms face legal proceedings under anti-corruption and dam-safety laws.
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Push for Accountability in Public Works
The Nune Sridhar case underscores the mounting challenges of systemic oversight in state-run infrastructure projects. Authorities stress the need for rigorous transparency and auditing, especially in newly formed districts where governance mechanisms may still be evolving.
The ACB has confirmed that the case is classified as “disproportionate assets” and said it will continue its investigation, including potential criminal charges if unlawful enrichment is confirmed. The probe is also expected to delve deeper into whether the luxury real estate and extravagant family events were financed through illicit gains from state contracts.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.