` 4.47 crore seized in Hyderabad ESI scam

Telangana’s Anti-Corruption Bureau has seized Rs4.47 crore in unaccounted cash from former director of Insurance Medical Services (IMC) Devika Rani and her colleague Naga Lakshmi.

The money was seized from a real estate company in Hyderabad during investigations into the disproportionate assets case. The anti-graft agency said the money was invested to purchase commercial and residential space in Cyberabad area here.

Devika Rani, who allegedly cheated the government of Rs9 crore through fake medical bills, had paid Rs3.75 crore while Naga Lakshmi, a pharmacist, paid Rs72 lakh to buy the property. "Both the accused officers had invested this unaccounted money towards the purchase of 6 residential flats and about 15,000 sq ft of commercial space in the names of their family members," the ACB said.

Devika Rani had also invested Rs22 lakh in 'benamis'. The investigators also identified another Rs2.29 crore paid through cheques and online transfers through various sources to purchase the property. The same is in the process of seizure, an official said. Both the accused officers were already arrested in the disproportionate assets case and they were released on bail by a court.

It was in September last year ACB had arrested then director Devika Rani and six others in a multi-crore scam in supply of medicines to dispensaries and hospitals under the Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme.