Endowment official held in disproportionate assets case

Vemulawada: Anti-Curruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths arrested an endowment official working with Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy temple on charges of possessing disproportionate assets to his known sources of income. Raids revealed that the official amassed properties worth more than Rs 5 crore.

On a tip-off that temple Superintendent Namala Rajender amassed properties through illegal means, the ACB team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) T Sudarshan Goud raided his house at the temple town on Thursday. The raids were also conducted at four other places, said to be of his relatives, simultaneously.

The investigation officers found properties that include residential house (G+2 with penthouse), one lodge (G+4 with penthouse), one under construction house, two open plots, 68 tolas of gold, two cars, two bikes, Rs 30 lakh advance paid for purchase of a plot in the town.

This apart, the authorities also found foreign liquor worth around Rs 1 lakh in Rajender’s residence. Excise officials, who were informed, booked him under relevant sections. The document value of the above properties is approximately Rs 2.42 crore, while the market value is around Rs 5 crore, according to the ACB officials.

It may be noted here that Rajender, who joined as a physical education teacher in a school belonging to the temple, had somehow managed to get into the administration. He is the in-charge of the prasadam section in Rajanna temple.