Telangana ACB raids HMWSSB official, seizes ₹1.10 crore cash and 1 kg gold
Synopsis
Telangana's ACB raided eight premises of a senior Hyderabad Metro Water Board official on Tuesday, seizing ₹1.10 crore in cash and 1 kg of gold — but that may be the tip of the iceberg. The agency suspects S.L. Kumar's total holdings approach ₹100 crore, making this the latest in a string of high-value anti-graft actions targeting state government officials.
Key Takeaways
The Telangana ACB raided eight premises linked to S.L.
Kumar , General Manager of HMWSSB Red Hills , on 19 May 2025 .
Raids uncovered more than ₹1.10 crore in cash, 1 kg of gold ornaments, 2.5 kg of silver items, and property documents.
Officials suspect Kumar's total assets are worth nearly ₹100 crore , including three flats , six plots , and agricultural land in Nizamabad .
Kumar has been detained for questioning; bank lockers are also under examination.
In a comparable case in December last year , the ACB found assets worth over ₹100 crore allegedly held by transport official Mood Kishan of Mahabubnagar .
The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday, 19 May conducted simultaneous raids across eight premises linked to S.L. Kumar, General Manager of the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), Red Hills, uncovering more than ₹1.10 crore in cash, approximately 1 kg of gold ornaments, 2.5 kg of silver items, and documents relating to prime properties. The searches were triggered by allegations that Kumar holds assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
What the Raids Uncovered
Teams led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) fanned out across locations in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Nizamabad districts early Tuesday morning. Officials were seen counting cash and sealing gold and silver valuables at Kumar's residence in Mallapur, while simultaneously examining property documents spread across multiple districts.
According to ACB officials, the agency suspects Kumar's total asset base is worth nearly ₹100 crore, comprising three flats in gated communities in Hyderabad, six open plots, three acres of agricultural land in Nizamabad district, and at least two cars. Bank lockers linked to Kumar were also being examined, according to reports.
Kumar Detained for Questioning
ACB officials detained S.L. Kumar and are questioning him to gather further details about his alleged asset holdings. A full disclosure of the disproportionate assets detected was reportedly expected by Tuesday evening. No formal arrest had been announced at the time of reporting.
A Pattern of Graft in Telangana
This is not an isolated incident. In December last year, the ACB uncovered assets allegedly worth over ₹100 crore amassed by Mood Kishan, then Deputy Transport Commissioner of Mahabubnagar district. A disproportionate assets case was registered against Kishan, whose properties carried a document value of ₹12.72 crore but an estimated market value exceeding ₹100 crore — with 31 acres of agricultural land in Sangareddy district near Hyderabad alone valued at over ₹60 crore.
The back-to-back cases involving senior officials from two different state departments point to a systemic pattern the ACB is now actively pursuing under Telangana's current administration.
What Happens Next
The ACB is expected to formally quantify the total disproportionate assets and file a chargesheet once the investigation concludes. Kumar's detention and the examination of bank lockers suggest the probe is still widening. Further arrests or notices to associates cannot be ruled out as the agency cross-checks property documents.
Point of View
Both with suspected asset bases near ₹100 crore — the ACB's recent track record suggests this is less a coincidence and more a deliberate enforcement push. What warrants scrutiny is how officials at the General Manager and Deputy Commissioner level allegedly accumulated such wealth over a career in public service without earlier detection. The real accountability question is not just about the individuals but about the oversight mechanisms — internal audits, asset declarations, and vigilance cells — that failed to flag these cases sooner. If the ACB's suspicion of ₹100 crore holds up, this will rank among the largest disproportionate-assets cases in Telangana's post-bifurcation history.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is S.L. Kumar and why was he raided by the ACB?
S.L. Kumar is the General Manager of the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), Red Hills. The Telangana ACB raided his premises on 19 May 2025 following allegations that he holds assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
What did the ACB find during the raids on S.L. Kumar's premises?
The ACB reportedly seized more than ₹1.10 crore in cash, approximately 1 kg of gold ornaments, 2.5 kg of silver items, documents relating to prime properties, and at least two cars. Bank lockers linked to Kumar were also being examined.
How much are S.L. Kumar's total assets suspected to be worth?
ACB officials suspect Kumar's total assets are worth nearly ₹100 crore, including three flats in Hyderabad gated communities, six open plots, and three acres of agricultural land in Nizamabad district.
Has Kumar been arrested?
As of the time of reporting, Kumar had been detained for questioning by ACB officials. No formal arrest had been announced, and a full disclosure of detected assets was expected by Tuesday evening.
Is this the first such major ACB case in Telangana recently?
No. In December last year, the ACB registered a disproportionate assets case against Mood Kishan, Deputy Transport Commissioner of Mahabubnagar district, whose properties had an estimated market value exceeding ₹100 crore despite a document value of just ₹12.72 crore.
