ACB to Focus on Tainted AEE’s Role in Kotepally Vagu Project

Hyderabad: ACB officials, who filed a petition before the court seeking police custody of irrigation AEE Herur Nikesh Kumar in an alleged illegal assets case, are likely to question him in connection with irregularities pertaining to the Kotepally Vagu project.

Nikesh Kumar worked as an AEE in the irrigation and command area development (CAD) department in Hyderabad and took up several irrigation projects. Sources said that he also worked on the Kotepally Vagu project, a medium irrigation project constructed across Kotipally Vagu to Kagna, a tributary of Bheema River in Vikarabad district.

ACB officials suspect that he indulged in gross irregularities by diverting funds. Apart from accepting bribes in Hyderabad, the investigation agency is also focusing on the accused officer's projects which were done earlier.

The ACB officials also reportedly obtained data on NoCs issued by him for real estate businessmen and individuals after accepting bribes. The officials are likely to write to the stamps and registration department seeking value of the seized properties of the accused. The investigation agency is yet to open his bank lockers, which they would after getting the court’s nod.