HYDERABAD

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), on Wednesday, raided two locations in connection with a money laundering probe against former Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) planning officer and Telangana RERA in-charge secretary Shiva Balakrishna. The raids were conducted at his residence in Rajendranagar and at his brother Naveen Kumar’s house in Chanakya Nagar, Medchal.

ED sources confirmed that documents related to properties and financial transactions were seized during the operation. These searches stem from an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the ED last year, following inputs from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

The ED’s action comes months after the ACB arrested Mr. Balakrishna and his brother on January 25 in a Disproportionate Assets (DPA) case. ACB officials had raided 17 locations, including properties of relatives and associates, leading to the seizure of assets worth over ₹8.26 crore, according to government value estimates.

The January searches led to the recovery of ₹99.60 lakh cash, over 2 kgs of gold, 6 kg silver ornaments, and documents pointing to assets worth ₹5.96 crore. ACB officials had said that the market value of these assets was likely to be significantly higher.

Mr. Balakrishna, who also served as the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) director, is accused of accumulating wealth through questionable means and exploiting his official position. The ACB invoked Sections 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 against him.