TTD Deputy EO Lokanatham Arrested

TTD Deputy Executive Officer Mendu Lokanatham was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials on Thursday following searches at his residence and properties linked to his family members and relatives. The searches began on Wednesday at his residence in Tirupati, the houses of his wife’s brothers nearby and the residence of his brother in Gundlakandriga of Yerpedu mandal. The searches continued until 9 a.m. on Thursday, after which officials completed the panchnama and informed his family about the arrest. Lokanatham was taken to the ACB regional office in Tirupati and later underwent a medical examination at Ruia Hospital before being produced before the ACB court in Nellore. The court remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days, following which he was shifted to Nellore Central Jail.

During the searches, the ACB reportedly identified assets worth around ₹5 crore in the names of Lokanatham, his family members and relatives. Their estimated market value is said to be around ₹20 crore. Officials also seized two kilograms of gold, 6.5 kilograms of silver articles and ₹12.50 lakh in cash, besides documents related to residential buildings and agricultural land. According to reports, ACB officials questioned Lokanatham about how he had accumulated assets worth crores while serving as a Deputy EO. He reportedly gave limited responses but maintained that the assets had been acquired through legal means.