Kaleshwaram Engineer N Sridhar's Disproprotionate Assets List

Coincidentally, on the same day that former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao appeared before the P.C. Ghose Commission probing alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) unearthed massive illegal assets belonging to Sridhar.

While both the Congress and BJP have levelled serious corruption allegations regarding the Kaleshwaram project, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) too had flagged financial irregularities in its execution.

Days after registering cases against another irrigation official, Hariram, the ACB on Wednesday uncovered Sridhar's disproportionate assets. Officials conducted searches at 13 locations linked to Sridhar, including his residences in Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Choppadandi, and other areas. They found both movable and immovable assets believed to be acquired through corrupt means.

Among the findings were a villa in Tellapur, a flat at Sky Raise Apartments in Shaikpet, three commercial flats in Ameerpet, independent buildings in Hyderabad, Warangal, and Karimnagar, 16 acres of agricultural land, 19 open housing plots across Hyderabad, Warangal, and Karimnagar, along with bank deposits and gold ornaments.

Interestingly, Sridhar had hosted his son's destination wedding in Thailand, reportedly spending an exorbitant amount. The ACB is also probing his investments in real estate and other business ventures.

ACB officials confirmed that N. Sridhar, executive engineer, irrigation-CAD, Division-8, SRSP Project, Choppadandi (Karimnagar district), was arrested on Wednesday following the raids. They added that a detailed valuation of the seized assets, including gold and cash deposits, is still underway. Preliminary estimates place the value of Sridhar's illegally amassed wealth at around Rs 150 crore. He has been produced before the court and sent to judicial remand.