ED Files Charges Against CPWD Engineer, Wife in Disproportionate Assets Case

Rapid Summary

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Hyderabad Zonal Office, has filed a prosecution complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against P. Sai Komareswar (a former CPWD Executive Engineer) and his wife P. Padmavathi.
• The Special PMLA Court took cognisance of the complaint on July 30, 2025.
• Investigation revealed the couple acquired four immovable properties using undisclosed cash payments and unsecured loans that remained unpaid for over five years.
• The couple holds investments worth approximately ₹1.39 crore in the share market but failed to explain the source of seized cash or details about alleged loans during their questioning by the ED.
• It was alleged that illicit funds where reintroduced into banking channels as legitimate money before being used to purchase properties.
• The case originated from a chargesheet filed by CBI’s Anti-Corruption Bureau in Hyderabad. It found disproportionate assets amounting to ₹1.26 crore belonging to Komareswar and his wife.
• Earlier findings included ₹30.5 lakh in unaccounted cash, key evidence such as locker keys, and other incriminating documents seized during searches at their residence.
• Charges were already levied against the couple under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and IPC; additionally, three immovable properties worth ₹1.26 crore had been attached by ED as proceeds of crime.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The filing of prosecution complaints under both corruption laws and money laundering statutes underscores India’s increased focus on rooting out financial crimes involving public officials abusing their positions for personal gain. This case highlights systemic challenges like unchecked wealth accumulation through illicit means within bureaucratic channels.

Importantly, it raises questions about clarity gaps in public accountability systems where such practices can go undetected until external bodies like CBI or ED intervene post-facto with stringent measures such as asset attachment or court cases.

While this signals stringent enforcement against corrupt practices within government bodies-a positive note-it also similarly reflects a need for proactive measures targeting prevention rather than reactive sanctions alone. Strengthening internal audits in departments like CPWD could serve as one avenue to mitigate such misconduct more effectively.

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