ACB books Suryapet town planning officer, finds assets worth ₹3.5 crore
SURYAPET: The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a disproportionate assets case against Vuyyala Somalah, town planning officer of Suryapet Municipality and in-charge town planning officer of Kodad Municipality in Suryapet district.
The case was registered by the ACB’s Nalgonda Range on allegations that Somalah acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income through corrupt practices and dubious means during his service.
The ACB conducted preliminary searches on September 3, 2026, at his house, office and seven other premises belonging to his relatives, associates and others.
Properties, cash, gold and vehicles found during searches
The searches led to the recovery of documents relating to several properties. These included 3 acres and 3 guntas of agricultural land in Suryapet district, with an official value of ₹2.94 lakh.
The ACB also found five residential properties in Suryapet district and Hayathnagar. They comprise a G+1 building, a G+2 building, a G+4 penthouse building and two ground-floor houses. Their total official value was estimated at ₹2.75 crore.
Eight open plots in various locations within Suryapet limits were also identified. Their official value was put at ₹2.59 lakh. The ACB said the market value of the properties was expected to be much higher than their official values.
The searches also yielded net cash of ₹4,63,990 and bank balances of ₹13 lakh.
The ACB valued 709 grams of gold ornaments and 1,750 grams of silver ornaments at approximately ₹20 lakh. It also found two four-wheelers and three two-wheelers valued at about ₹25.20 lakh.
Household articles and electronic gadgets were valued at approximately ₹11 lakh, the ACB said.
ACB puts total assets at more than ₹3.54 crore
The officer had also availed himself of a gold loan of ₹49 lakh by pledging 66.9 thulas of gold with a bank, according to the ACB.
Further verification of additional assets is under way.
The ACB estimated the total assets found so far at ₹3,54,36,490.
The case has been registered under Section 13(1)(b) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018.
The officer will be produced before the Principal Special Judge for SPE and ACB cases at Hyderabad for judicial remand. The case is under investigation.
The ACB urged the public to report demands for bribes by public servants on its toll-free number, 1064. It said complaints can also be made through its WhatsApp and social media platforms, and assured that the identity and details of victims or complainants would be kept secret.
