Over Rs 28 crore land, crores in gold, silver, watches: ACB reveals huge seizure of assets of former HMDA director

HYDERABAD: Sensational details have emerged in the remand report of Former HMDA Director Shiva Balakrishna who was arrested by the Anti Corruption Bureau sleuths on Thursday. Shiva is currently lodged in Chanchalguda Jail on a 14-day remand by the ACB court.

According to the 45-page remand report, Balakrishna demanded huge bribes for layouts. permissions. He also took bribes in the form of plots, constructions and villas.

ACB searched around 18 places including Shiva Balakrishna’s house. In all, 50 property documents were seized which include Rs 4.9 crore immovable property and Rs 8.2 crore movable property. As per the documents, the property is worth Rs 10 crore as per documents and Rs 10 crore more in the open market.

The properties include a villa in Puppalaguda Aditya Fort View, a flat in Somajiguda Aditya Fort View, flat in Somajiguda Legend Tulips, flats in Serilingampally and Malkajgiri, 12.13 acres of land in Chevella, lands in Abdullahpurmet, Bhuvanagiri, Yadadri, Jangaon, Siddipet Gajwel and a few plots in Nagarkurnool.

Along with land, Rs 99 lakh in cash, four cars worth Rs 51 lakh and cash in bank worth Rs 58 lakh was seized. Gold, silver, watches, phones and home appliances valuing Rs 8.26 crore was also seized which included 120 Rolex, Rado, Fossil, and Tissot brands of wrist watches which is worth Rs 32 lakhs. As many as 31 Apple phones and tabs were seized worth Rs 15 lakhs.

ACB also conducted searches on 'benamis' which included several infra companies like Sai Sandeep Infra, Quarizon Space and SS Construction. Searches were conducted at the accused's sister's house in Uppal and the house of relatives in Himayatnagar. In all, 155 documents including four passbooks and 20 LIC policy bonds were seized.

Shiva Balakrishna joined service in 1994 in Group 1. He held key positions in Anantapur, Guntur, Vizag, GHMC and other municipal departments. He served as the director of HMDA from 2021 to 2023. It is during this time that he carried out his illegal activities.