Overview

• The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested B. Hari Ram, former Engineer-in-Chief of the Kaleshwaram irrigation project, for possessing assets disproportionate to his known income.
• Raids were conducted at 14 locations tied to Hari Ram and his family, uncovering luxury villas, flats, agricultural land, vehicles, jewelry, and substantial bank deposits.
• The seized assets include properties in Hyderabad, Amaravathi, and other locations, with a real market value likely exceeding official estimates, according to the ACB.
• Hari Ram’s arrest follows the release of an NDSA report highlighting critical design and safety flaws in the Kaleshwaram project, raising broader accountability concerns.
• He remains in judicial custody as investigations continue, intensifying scrutiny of corruption and governance in one of India’s largest irrigation initiatives.