Hyderabad: In a major breakthrough against corruption, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested retired Engineer-in-Chief of the Irrigation Department, Chetti Muralidhar Rao, during a raid at his upscale Banjara Hills residence on Monday. The arrest is part of an extensive investigation into allegations of disproportionate assets amassed during his tenure. ACB officials conducted simultaneous raids across 10 locations, including key sites in Hyderabad, Karimnagar, and Zaheerabad, in connection with the case.

Sources within the ACB revealed that the crackdown was initiated following credible evidence indicating Rao had accumulated wealth and properties that far exceeded his known sources of income. Authorities believe the retired officer may have used his influential position in the Irrigation Department to unlawfully benefit, amassing luxury assets and real estate holdings through illicit means. Several documents, digital records, and property-related files have been seized and are now under scrutiny as part of the probe.

This operation comes amidst an intensified effort by Telangana’s ACB to curb corruption in public service. Just days earlier, the GHMC terminated 27 outsourced engineers on corruption charges, and multiple lower-tier officials have also been booked for bribery and misuse of power. The arrest of a senior retired official like Chetti Muralidhar Rao marks a significant escalation in the ACB’s campaign to restore transparency and accountability in government departments. Further developments and official disclosures from the ACB are awaited as investigations continue.