Andhra Pradesh intelligence chief AB Venkateswara Rao transferred by EC

The SPs of Kadapa and Srikakulam Rahul Dev and Venkataratnam have also been transferred.
Andhra Pradesh intelligence chief AB Venkateswara Rao transferred by EC
Andhra Pradesh intelligence chief AB Venkateswara Rao transferred by EC

The Andhra Pradesh Election Commission has ordered for the transfer of intelligence chief AB Venkateswara Rao following a complaint filed by the YSRCP. The opposition party alleged that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu was using police officials to subvert election procedures in the state.

In addition to the Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Venkateshwara Rao, both superintendents of police of Kadapa and Srikakulam, too, have been ordered to be transferred by the Election Commission.

At the moment, it is unclear what the exact charges against the three officers are. In a statement to the media, Andhra Pradesh Election Commission CEO said, “It is to inform all the concerned that ECI (Election Commission of India) has transferred DG Intelligence and SP's of Kadapa and Srikakulam with immediate effect.” The transferred officers have been attached to state police headquarters.

As per the preliminary information, Venkateswara Rao has been banned from participating in any election duties.  

YSRCP Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy had earlier alleged that the ADGP was being influenced by the state government and had accused the chief minister of using intelligence programs for political gains. He had also claimed that Rao was behind the defection of nearly two dozen YSRCP MLAs to the ruling Telugu Desam Party. Jagan requested the Governor to remove the ADGP from election duty in light of the alleged conflict.

Following the suspicious death of senior YSRCP leader and Jagan’s uncle, YS Vivekananda Reddy, the latter’s daughter, Sunitha Reddy, had met with the Chief Electoral Officer, Gopalakrishna Dwivedi. She demanded that an impartial probe be conducted into her father’s murder and also complained against the politicization of her father’s death.

YS Vivekananda Reddy was murdered at his residence on March 15. While initial reports suggested that he died due to a cardiac arrest, it was later revealed that he had been murdered. The death has become political, with TDP alleging that Jagan and his family were involved in the murder.

On March 11, YSRCP delegates had met with Election Commission officials in Delhi. The group of delegates was led by former MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy and included PAC chairman Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, Rajya Sabha member Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy among others.



 

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