Hyderabad has been witnessing a significant rise in corruption cases within the Telangana Irrigation Department. In the past three months, numerous Irrigation engineers have been arrested for holding disproportionate assets and taking bribes. These officials have allegedly acquired assets valued at over Rs 100 crore.
Recently, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Executive Engineer N Sridhar for possessing disproportionate assets. The ACB conducted searches at various locations, including his home and his relatives’ properties. Sridhar had accumulated villas, luxury apartments, and prime plots in Hyderabad.
ACB officials have received multiple complaints about Irrigation officials demanding bribes to process contractors’ pending bills. Many engineers, who have the authority to approve projects and select executing agencies, face corruption charges. The ACB carefully reviewed Sridhar’s career before discovering his illegal assets, which are valued at over Rs 200 crore.
In another case, Assistant Engineer Nikesh Kumar was arrested after raids revealed assets worth approximately Rs 150 crore. Nikesh allegedly collaborated with contractors and used ‘benami’ names for projects. His misuse of position shocked the department.
The arrest of Executive Engineer Arram Reddy Amarender Reddy, caught accepting a Rs 60,000 bribe, further surprised department officials. Such direct arrests by the ACB for bribery are rare in recent times.
Senior officials indicate that the Irrigation Secretary is reviewing the department’s personnel performance. A key concern is the long duration some officials spend in the same post, which may lead to forming extensive networks with agencies and exploiting their roles for illegal gains.
