Telangana ACB books NIMS official in disproportionate assets case after raids

The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau has registered a disproportionate assets case against Nori Lakshmi Bhasker, Additional Medical Superintendent at the state-run Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad, following searches that uncovered assets with a documented value of roughly Rs 6.13 crore.

Officials said the market value of the properties could be higher, putting it at more than Rs 100 crore.

The searches were carried out on Tuesday at eight locations in Hyderabad, including Bhasker's residence in Erragadda and premises linked to his relatives, friends and associates. The agency alleges that he accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income through corrupt practices.

Investigators found documents relating to eight residential flats: a four-bedroom flat in a high-rise gated community, two three-bedroom flats in Kukatpally and five two-bedroom flats spread across Manikonda, Petbasheerabad and Kukatpally. Four open plots were identified in Yadadri, Nandigama and Shamirpet, along with an 800-square-yard plot in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Among the financial assets allegedly linked to the official are Rs 41 lakh in bank balances, Rs 12 lakh in post office deposits, Rs 35 lakh invested in private financial institutions and Rs 29.55 lakh in mutual funds. The ACB also said he had invested Rs 1.30 crore in a flat that is the subject of proceedings before the Debt Recovery Tribunal and had extended Rs 1.33 crore as hand loans to various individuals.

Officials further recovered about 517.8 grams of gold ornaments, three cars — including a Jaguar and an Audi, besides a Tata Nexon — four two-wheelers and electronic gadgets valued at around Rs 5 lakh.

The case has been registered under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. Verification of additional assets is under way and further investigation is in progress.