ACB arrests peon with assets worth ₹90 cr in Andhra Pradesh

THE ATTENDER IN THE TRANSPORT DEPTT OWNS 18 FLATS IN POSH LOCALITIES OF NELLORE, BESIDES 50.36 ACRES OF AGRICULTURE LAND

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Andhra Pradesh has arrested an office subordinate (attendant) working in the transport department in Nellore for allegedly amassing assets worth nearly ₹90 crore, the police said in a statement released late on Tuesday night

The day-long raids by the ACB officials on the residence of Karadu Narasimha Reddy (55), an attender in the office of Deputy Transport Commissioner, revealed that he owns as many as 18 flats in the posh localities of Nellore, besides 50.36 acres of agriculture land bought in the name of his family members and gold ornaments weighing nearly two kg, besides silver idols and utensils weighing seven kg.

The authorities also unearthed deposits worth ₹1.10 crore in Life Insurance Corporation and other insurance policies worth ₹10 lakh. They found ₹7.50 lakh cash in the drawer of his office table – denominations of ₹2,000 and ₹500. Reddy reportedly admitted to the authorities that his fortune was the accumulation of bribes he would collect from Road Transport Authority agents every day. The police said details of items in two lockers in his name in a cooperative bank were still being assessed.

The market value of the assets unearthed during the ACB raids is tentatively estimated at ₹90 crore, the police said. He also has a bank balance of ₹20 lakh.

Reddy, who began his career as an attender in 1984 on a paltry salary of ₹650, currently earns a monthly salary of around ₹40,000. “He continued in the same post for the last 34 years. He even rejected promotions fearing that he might get transferred elsewhere and he might lose the channels of collecting bribes,” an ACB official said.

The accused is learnt to have told the ACB officials that all the assets belonged to him.

Asked how he managed to amass so much wealth, Reddy reportedly told them that he used to get huge bribes at RTA check post and also in the office. He was also making big money by lending his ill-gotten money to several people, including public representatives, on high interest rates .

The ACB raids were led by DSP Rama Devi. “Once we assess the contents of his two bank lockers, maybe they would reveal more assets,” Andhra Pradesh ACB director general RP Thakur said.