DA case: ACB conducts fresh searches linked to NIMS staff

The ACB has intensified its probe into the disproportionate assets case against NIMS Additional Medical Superintendent Dr Nori Laxmi Bhaskar by conducting searches at five houses linked to NIMS employees.

Hyderabad: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday intensified its investigation into the disproportionate assets (DA) case against Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) Additional Medical Superintendent Dr Nori Laxmi Bhaskar by conducting searches at five houses of NIMS employees.

During the searches, ACB officials reportedly recovered Rs 7 lakh in cash from Dhanraj, a barber working at NIMS. Officials are also verifying land documents and tracing the money trail at all five locations to determine whether the employees have any links to the alleged disproportionate assets.

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Dr Laxmi Bhaskar was recently arrested and remanded in connection with the DA case. During the earlier investigation, the ACB identified assets with a registered value of Rs 6.13 crore, while their estimated market value was put at Rs 80 crore to Rs 100 crore.

The agency also seized 517.8 grams of gold jewellery, luxury vehicles including Jaguar, Audi and Tata Nexon cars, and several two-wheelers. Properties identified during the probe include flats in Kukatpally and Manikonda and open plots in Visakhapatnam and other locations.

The ACB further identified Rs 41 lakh in bank accounts, Rs 12 lakh in post office deposits and investments of around Rs 64.55 lakh in private finance schemes and mutual funds.

ACB officials suspect that the alleged illegal accumulation of wealth may be linked to hospital admissions, procurement of laboratory equipment and commissions. The latest searches are aimed at establishing the money trail and determining whether other individuals are linked to the alleged assets.