AP excise dept SI held for amassing disproportionate assets

A man, who joined the excise department as a constable and rose to become a sub-inspector, was today arrested in Kurnool district after huge assets disproportionate to known sources of income were unearthed.

Though the value of the confiscated property has not been revealed, Andhra Pradesh Anti-Corruption Bureau sources estimated that its market value could be several crore rupees.

ACB Director General R P Thakur said in a release that raids were conducted simultaneously in Chittoor and Kurnool districts of Andhra Pradesh and Katpadi in neighbouring Tamil Nadu on the properties owned by the accused prohibition and excise department officer Erragoppula Vijay Kumar and his wife Meena.

Kumar joined the excise department as a constable in 1992 and rose in ranks to become a sub-inspector.

He is currently posted at Naguladinne in Kurnool district.

The raids revealed that Kumar owned only a shed in Chittoor town while all other assets were registered in his kin's names.

Assets registered in Meena's name include two houses, ten house sites, three parcels of agricultural land and a shed, the release said.

One parcel of agricultural land was registered in his son's name.

A car, tractor-trailer and jeep were confiscated.

About 700 grams of gold, valued at Rs 10 lakh, and another Rs 10 lakh in cash were also seized.

Two bank lockers of the accused were yet to be opened, the ACB said.