In an embarrassing incident for the Andhra Pradesh police, the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) issued transfer orders to a senior police officer, who had died six months ago.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) D Ramanjaneyulu, posted in the Tirumala special branch, had died around six months ago at a hospital, while undergoing treatment.
However, his name found its way to the list of 16 DSPs who were transferred, and he was asked to report to the police headquarters at Mangalagiri.
Reporting that his funeral was held in Gandlapenta in Kadiri mandal and was attended by several senior police officials, the Deccan Chronicle reported that the officer’s family was shocked to receive the transfer orders.
Following this, DGP Nanduri Sambasiva Rao ordered an internal inquiry, and the police blamed a clerical error for the mix-up. The transfer order stands cancelled, they added.
As news broke out on Tuesday about the goof-up, the DGP was celebrating his birthday, and had to halt it, to order an internal inquiry as to how the deceased DSP's name cropped up in the list, PTI reported.
Deputy Chief Minister (Home) N China Rajappa also pulled up the police, and asked them to find out what happened, the PTI report added.
Earlier in the week, the Police Establishment Board, headed by the DGP, had met in Amravati and recommended shuffling 16 deputy superintendents of police across the state.
In November this year, putting an end to ongoing speculation, the state government issued orders appointing then DGP (Coordination) Sambasiva Rao as full-time head of the state’s police force (HoPF). Rao had been working as the in-charge DGP since July 2016.
At the time, The Hindu reported that Rao is scheduled to retire by the end of the year, but the state government gave no clarity over extension of the term. However, it is likely that he would continue as the DGP until the next general elections in the state.