Water board GM amassed most of his illegal wealth over 15 yrs: ACB

Hyderabad: HMWSSB general manager Saggam Anantha Laxmi Kumar, 58, arrested in a disproportionate assets case on Tuesday, allegedly amassed most of his wealth over the past 15 years, according to ACB officials.Investigators said Kumar’s wife is a homemaker, and his two daughters are unemployed. “Most of the disproportionate assets are in the names of the accused officer and his wife,” an official said.The assets include 18 acres of agricultural land in the Navipet and Bodhan areas of Nizamabad district and in the Cheryal area of Sangareddy district. ACB said that Kumar purchased some of the agricultural lands by paying the amount and notarising a deed regarding the transaction.

“The notarised deeds were not registered, probably to keep the ownership off govt scrutiny,” said an ACB investigator.During the searches, officials seized ₹1.1 crore in cash and more than two kilograms of gold ornaments from Kumar’s residence. Preliminary investigation revealed that his younger daughter’s wedding was held on April 30, and officials suspect the seized cash and jewellery may be linked to wedding expenses.

“The cash was reportedly kept at home for marriage-related expenses, and the gold ornaments were also stored there for the ceremony. However, when the family lockers were opened, we found only one necklace. We are now examining the wedding videos by obtaining footage from the videography company,” an ACB official said.The ACB team said that Kumar undervalued properties during registration. According to investigators, Kumar showed that he purchased a 200-square-yard plot at Venkata Ramana Colony in Mallapur for ₹20 lakh about two years ago.

However, the ACB team found an agreement made by him with the landowner agreeing to purchase the land for ₹1.1 crore. “The G+3 house he built at the site would cost at least ₹2 crore,” an official added.Kumar completed a diploma in civil engineering from JN Govt Polytechnic College, Ramanthapur, in 1987 and joined HMWSSB as a technical work inspector in 1991. He later completed BTech and MTech degrees from JNTU Hyderabad.He was promoted as manager in 2003, became deputy general manager at Marredpally in 2010, and was elevated as general manager in 2021, serving at the Durgam Cheruvu STP. In 2024, he was posted as GM (Projects), Division VIII, Red Hills.Officials said Kumar played a significant role in planning and executing HMWSSB projects. “He did not inherit substantial assets from his parents and was the sole earning member of the family when the disproportionate assets were acquired. We are investigating how he accumulated such wealth,” an ACB investigator said.Kumar was produced before a magistrate on Wednesday morning and sent to Chanchalguda prison on judicial remand.