ACB raids aide of ex Dy CM Dharmana

The raids were on the basis of allegations that he had acquired assets disproportionate to his known source of income. Documents seized from his possession showed he owned several houses --and as many house plots elsewhere too -- in Srikakulam district.

Gondu Murali is currently working as a lab technician at the Budithi community health centre in Srikakulam district.

The allegations were that Gondu Murali acquired huge assets disproportionate to his known source of income in his name and in the name of his family members through corrupt and dubious means during his service as PA to the deputy CM from 2019 to 2022.

The ACB raided the residential premises of Murali at Dantha Village of Kotabommali mandal, the office premises at CHC Budithi, his brother's house at Lingannaidupeta, his father-in-law's house at Dantha, all these in Srikakulam district, as also his houses in Srikakulam town and at Gajuwaka in Visakhapatnam.

The unearthed documents include those of a house in Srikakulam, three houses in Dantha Village, a flat at Madhurawada in Vizag, a house at Gajuwaka in Vizag, a house at Kotabommali in Srikakulam district, four house plots in Srikakulam district, one house plot in Pendurthi of Visakhapatnam city, one house plot in Bhogapuram of Vizianagaram district, 15.47 acres of agriculture wet land in Srikakulam district, 6.05 acres of dry land in Srikakulam district, 520 grams of gold jewellery, 536 grams of gold jewellery in a locker, 11.36kg of silver articles, bank balances of `43,223, one Maruthi car and one Bullet motorcycle.

Gondu Murali was in possession of movable and immovable assets worth `3 crore (approximately) as per documents value.

The sleuths also found five defence liquor bottles and five Orissa state liquor quarter bottles in his house. Another FIR is registered under AP Excise Act of Kotabommali Excise PS. Officials said Gondu Murali will be arrested and produced before the ACB court for remand.