Jaguar, Audi, gold: ACB's big haul in NIMS official's property probe

The Telangana ACB has booked NIMS Additional Medical Superintendent in a disproportionate assets case after searches at eight locations. Investigators said the searches revealed properties, vehicles, gold and investments valued at Rs 6.13 crore on record, with verification continuing.

In Short

• Searches covered NIMS official's home and seven premises linked to associates
• Papers showed several flats in Kukatpally, Manikonda and Petbasheerabad areas
• Officials listed plots in Telangana and an 800-square-yard Visakhapatnam property

Jaguar, Audi, gold, multiple flats and crores in investments, this is the trail of assets that has emerged from Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau searches targeting Nori Lakshmi Bhaskar, an Additional Medical Superintendent at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).

The Telangana ACB registered a disproportionate assets case against the 56-year-old government doctor-administrator, alleging that he accumulated assets beyond his known sources of income through corrupt practices and dubious means during his service.

On Tuesday, ACB teams carried out searches at Bhaskar's residence and seven other premises linked to his relatives, friends, alleged benamis and associates. What investigators say they uncovered includes a string of flats and plots, luxury vehicles, gold ornaments and substantial financial investments.

MULTIPLE FLATS, PLOTS UNDER SCANNER

Among the properties identified by the ACB are one four-bedroom and two three-bedroom flats in high-rise gated communities in Kukatpally. Five two-bedroom flats in Manikonda, Petbasheerabad and Kukatpally were also found in the property trail.

The searches further brought plots in Yadadri, Nandigama and Shamirpet under the agency's scanner. An 800-square-yard plot in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, was also among the properties identified.

The list of movable assets was equally striking. The ACB said it found 517.8 grams of gold ornaments and vehicles including a Jaguar, Audi and Tata Nexon. Four two-wheelers — a Royal Enfield, Vespa, Activa and Yamaha — were also found.

Electronic gadgets worth around Rs 5 lakh were also recovered during the searches.

CRORES IN FINANCIAL ASSETS

The financial trail uncovered by investigators added another layer to the case.

According to the ACB, searches revealed Rs 41 lakh in bank balances, Rs 12 lakh in post-office deposits, Rs 35 lakh in private financial institutions and Rs 29.55 lakh in mutual funds.

The agency also alleged that Rs 1.33 crore had been given as hand loans to various persons.

Adding to the property trail, the ACB alleged that Bhaskar had invested Rs 1.30 crore in a flat that was under dispute before the Debt Recovery Tribunal.

The agency has so far placed the document value of the identified assets at Rs 6.13 crore. However, it said the market value could be several times higher.

The ACB has stressed that the verification process is still underway and additional assets could emerge as the investigation progresses.

The case has been registered under Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.

The allegations against Bhaskar are part of an ongoing investigation and have not been established by a court.

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