- Irrigation Engineer’s Corruption Empire Unfolds
- Spent Crores of Rupees on his Son’s Lavish Wedding
- Lavish Lifestyle, Hidden Wealth
- ACB Exposes Massive Corruption
Article Today, Hyderabad:
The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has uncovered a major corruption scandal in the state’s irrigation department. Executive Engineer Nune Sridhar, who held key responsibilities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, has been arrested in connection with illegal assets worth over ₹200 crore. The case has raised serious questions about the scale of corruption within the department and the involvement of senior officials.
Engineer’s Luxury Assets Across Telangana
During recent searches on June 11, ACB officials raided 14 locations linked to Sridhar. They discovered a vast network of high-value assets. Sridhar owns a luxurious villa in Tellapur, Hyderabad, and a 4,500-square-foot premium flat in Shaikpet. His properties include a three-storey building in Warangal, 19 prime residential plots, and significant agricultural land. He also owns three flats in Karimnagar, a hotel, large amounts of gold, cash, and substantial bank deposits.
A Grand Wedding in Thailand
The investigation also revealed that Sridhar spent crores of rupees on his son’s lavish wedding held in Thailand. ACB sources believe that such extravagant spending was made possible through years of illegal earnings. Officials suspect the wealth was accumulated through bribes, benami deals, and large-scale corruption in irrigation contracts.
Ignoring Senior Orders with Impunity
More troubling is Sridhar’s blatant defiance of higher authorities. On June 27, 2024, Irrigation Principal Secretary Rahul Bojja issued clear instructions for Sridhar to report to the Hyderabad Chief Office. However, Sridhar continued to serve as Executive Engineer in Choppadandi for nearly a year, disregarding the order completely.
Senior Officials Under the Scanner
This defiance has raised serious concerns about the backing Sridhar might have enjoyed from top officials. Investigations suggest that Sridhar may have acted under the protection of Engineer-in-Chief (ENC) Anil. ACB has launched a deeper probe into Anil’s connections with Sridhar and whether senior officers were complicit in shielding him.
How Did He Gain Such Confidence?
The central question now is: how did Sridhar muster the courage to ignore direct orders from the Principal Secretary? Was this possible without the silent support of senior officers? The ACB is closely examining these links, aiming to uncover whether other top officials played a role in enabling Sridhar’s illegal wealth accumulation.
A Wider Corruption Network?
This high-profile case highlights potential systemic corruption in Telangana’s irrigation project. As ACB continues its investigation, more names from within the department may come under scrutiny. The scale of Sridhar’s assets suggests that the issue may go far beyond one individual. The findings have sparked concern among the public and raised urgent questions about accountability and transparency in the state’s major infrastructure projects.
