The Anti-Corruption Bureau officials found 23 ‘illicit foreign liquor bottles worth Rs 5.29 lakh and it led to Excise officials registering a case under various Sections of the Excise Act
Anti-Corruption Bureau officials have unearthed properties worth Rs 4.04 crore illegally amassed by Deputy Transport Commissioner (DTC) Puppala Srinivas.
The ACB arrested Srinivas here on Saturday, produced him before the ACB court, and remanded him in judicial custody. Apart from a case of disproportionate assets, he was charged under the Excise Act following the seizure of foreign liquor bottles at one of his houses.
According to ACB officials, properties disproportionate to his known sources of income were unearthed. The ACB officials carried out extensive searches that threw light on Srinivas’ lavish lifestyle which was funded by corrupt practices.
Srinivas, known for his affinity for imported alcohol and luxury, was found with three luxury cars and a collection of 23 bottles of foreign liquor valued at Rs 5.29 lakh.
The massive haul included three residential properties worth Rs 2.79 crore, 16 open plots valued at Rs 13.57 lakh, 15 acres and 20 guntas of agricultural land worth Rs 14.04 lakh, and a bank balance of Rs 5.85 crore. Other items seized included household goods valued at Rs 22.85 lakh, three cars and one motorcycle worth Rs 43.80 lakh, gold ornaments valued at Rs 19.55 lakh, and silver ornaments worth Rs 28,000. While the total value of these assets is estimated at Rs 4.04 crore, officials believe their market worth could be much higher.
In addition to the corruption charges, Srinivas’ possession of foreign liquor has led to further legal trouble. The ACB alerted the Shankarpally Excise Police, who filed a separate excise case under Section 34(a) of the Telangana Excise Act, 1968 for illegal possession of foreign liquor bottles. In all, 23 bottles of foreign liquor valued at Rs 5.29 lakh were also seized.
Following the raids, Puppala Srinivas was arrested and presented before the Special Court in Warangal.
