Visakhapatnam: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials arrested Ponduru Simhachalam, zonal commissioner-II (Madhurawada) with the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) for possessing assets disproportionate to his known source of income.
The ACB sleuths raided four places including the house and office of Simhachalam in Vizag city and his relatives’ residences in Srikakulam and Hyderabad, and seized land documents, gold ornaments, bank balance and one car.
They identified 20 properties, including 4.6 acres of farmland in Srikakulam district, one house site in Vijayawada, 13 house sites in Srikakulam district, three house sites in Vizag and one flat in Vizag city
Preliminary investigation revealed that Simhachalam is in possession of Disproportionate Assets approximately worth Rs two crore (as per the document value). However, the assets would be worth over Rs 20 crore to Rs 30 crore as per the market value. Further investigation is in progress to unearth some more illegal assets.
The ACB officials said that Simhachalam accepted huge kickbacks from the people for doing official favours. The tainted officer is being arrested and produced before the ACB Court in Visakhapatnam.
