Andhra IAS officer who abused cops at Bengaluru pub transferred

Andhra Pradesh cadre IAS officer Vikas Marmat, who was recently booked by the Bengaluru police for allegedly abusing and assaulting police personnel conducting an inspection at a pub, has been transferred without an alternative posting. 

The transfer order was issued by Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary G Sai Prasad on October 14, three days after the FIR was registered. Vikas had been serving as Project Director, Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA). The order said he was transferred with immediate effect and was directed to report to the General Administration Department (GAD) for further posting. 

Vikas, a 2019-batch IAS officer, was booked for allegedly assaulting and abusing police personnel at the Cavore bar and restaurant in Bengaluru, and obstructing them from discharging their duty, along with three friends. 

According to an FIR registered at the Cubbon Park police station based on a complaint from Police Inspector Arun Salunke of the Special Enquiry Wing of the Bengaluru Police’s Central Crime Branch, the incident occurred around 1.30 am on October 11, when the officer visited Cavore while inspecting bars and restaurants in the area along with his team. 

The complaint said that when the police asked customers for identification, four men including Vikas allegedly entered into an argument with them. When Vikas told the police that he was an IAS officer, they asked him to show an ID, which reportedly led to a quarrel. Visuals from the incident showed the IAS officer using abusive language against the police.

The incident invoked criticism from the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh. YSRCP spokesperson Bhumana Karunakar Reddy alleged that government officials who were emboldened by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s protection had extended their misconduct into neighbouring states.

“Officers expected to set an example are behaving worse than goons, confident that CM Naidu will protect them,” he said. He also alleged that Vikas was involved in corrupt activities in Kuppam, Chandrababu Naidu’s constituency.