The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested Muralidhar Rao, former Engineer-in-Chief of the state’s Irrigation Department, in connection with a disproportionate assets case tied to the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.
In early morning operations, the ACB conducted simultaneous raids at ten locations linked to Rao, including his residence in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, and properties across Karimnagar and Zaheerabad. Officials also searched the office of Rao’s son, Abhishek, suspecting that illegally earned funds had been funneled into his business ventures.
ACB sources confirmed that a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been filed based on evidence suggesting Rao amassed wealth far beyond his official income during his tenure. Rao remains in ACB custody undergoing further interrogation.
This arrest follows the recent detention of Nune Sridhar, an Executive Engineer also involved in the Kaleshwaram project, who was found with assets worth approximately Rs 60 crore—significantly disproportionate to his earnings. Sridhar is currently in judicial remand.
The crackdown reflects the ACB’s intensified focus on rooting out corruption within Telangana’s irrigation department, especially involving officials connected to the high-profile Kaleshwaram project. The Justice Ghose committee, which is examining these irregularities, is expected to release its report later this month.
