Hyderabad: The alleged lavish lifestyle of deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Bheem Reddy has come under the scanner of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).During its preliminary investigation, the ACB allegedly found that the officer regularly travelled in high-end cars and lived in an upscale apartment in Gachibowli before moving, more than a year ago, to an expensive villa near Taramati Baradari.“He has been known for more than a decade to travel in luxury cars, and his lifestyle has often been a subject of discussion. He is also known for his networking skills,” a source told TOI.“It will be difficult for Bheem Reddy to explain how he purchased the villa, let alone the other properties identified in the names of his alleged benamis. Buying a villa in that locality is beyond his known sources of income,” sources said.According to officials, all but a few of the 20 properties identified by the ACB are registered in the names of his alleged benamis. They said the investigation is still at an early stage and more assets are likely to be identified. Earlier estimates had valued the identified properties at around ₹150 crore.One of the five alleged benamis, a resident of Patancheru, is reportedly in possession of several properties. He has claimed that he is engaged in the real estate and construction business. However, investigators suspect the claim and are attempting to establish that the assets were acquired using the alleged proceeds of Bheem Reddy. Apart from the Patancheru resident, a former home guard who resigned from service is also under ACB’s radar.Officials are also probing how the alleged benamis acquired multiple properties, including land parcels in Karnataka, some of which were purchased more than a decade ago.Although the ACB said Bheem Reddy had not been arrested because of ill health, the decision drew controversy after the bureau put the arrest on hold. The ACB is expected to share details of the investigation with the Enforcement Directorate in the coming days.Except for his current posting in the Police Computer Services (PCS), Bheem Reddy spent most of his career in Law and Order postings in and around different commissionerates in the city.
