The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Hyderabad has provisionally attached 19 immovable properties valued at around Rs 5.15 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. These assets are allegedly linked to Dacha Janardhan Mahesh, a former Town Planning Section Officer with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), and his family members. The action follows an ongoing money laundering investigation initiated based on an FIR from April 4, 2016, registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Hyderabad.
The investigation revealed that Mahesh possessed assets worth about Rs 5.27 crore, significantly exceeding his known income sources. He acquired multiple immovable properties using the proceeds of crime, including land plots, shops, flats, and residential premises. The ED found substantial cash deposits in the bank accounts of Mahesh and his family members, which were used for property acquisition and personal expenses. The agency also identified that Mahesh channeled the proceeds of crime for a construction project named “Shree Indira Sadan” through his cousin, KB Laxminarayana.
The attached properties consist of various land plots, commercial shops, flats, and residential units owned by Mahesh and his family. The investigation is ongoing to uncover more details and trace additional assets. This case underscores the efforts to combat corruption in public offices, especially in urban planning departments where officials can misuse their positions for personal gain. The provisional attachment of these properties prevents their sale or transfer until the legal proceedings conclude.
