Telangana: ACB to nail revenue officials taking bribes to issue NOCs

Hyderabad:Taking advantage of land value and high-rise constructions in Gandipet, irrigation AEE Herur Nikesh Kumar, arrested last week with Rs 100 crore illegal assets, reportedly collected bribes as a ‘package’ from builders, individuals, and residential building owners to issue no-objection certificates (NOCs) for constructions in the buffer zones and full tank level in Gandipet.

The surroundings were under his jurisdiction in the irrigation department. The accused allegedly colluded with revenue officers in joint inspections to issue NOCs against hefty kickbacks. Days after arresting him, the agency filed a petition before the court seeking eight-day police custody for questioning Kumar in the alleged illegal assets case.

As per ACB's history, the Devika Rani's ESI scam topped in terms of amassing illegal assets followed by that of Nikesh Kumar and HMDA’s former director Siva Balakrishna. Sources said that Nikesh Kumar shared 50 per cent of the bribe amount with some other officers in the Gandipet jurisdiction.

"During inspection prior to issuing NOCs at buffer zone and FTL areas, irrigation and revenue officials jointly conduct verification and prepare a report. Nikesh Kumar fixed a bribery price for revenue and irrigation officials. The HYDRAA also found names of irrigation and revenue officials who violated rules in issuing NOCs to construct houses at buffer zones and FTL areas," sources said. The ACB also would keep a tab on the revenue officers in connection with the bribery activities.

The ACB officials are likely to open bank lockers belonging to the accused officer after taking his custody.