In a setback for TDP Supremo and chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh government today transferred the chief of Intellegence department I B Venkateswar Rao as per instructions of Election Commission of India, much against the CM’s wishes.
The government was forced to give effect to the transfer following AP High Court’s refusal to grant stay on the transfer of three IPS officers.
Chief secretary Anil Chandra Punetha issued orders asking Director General (Intelligence) Rao to report to the police headquarters. Rao has to handover the charge to the senior most officer in the department.
Taking objection to the Election Commission’s instruction to the state to shift chief of intelligence along with SPs of Kadapa and Srikakulam, ostensibly following complaints from Opposition YSR Congress, the TDP government approached the court for a stay.
The state’s contention is that since the post of intelligence chief is no way connected to the election process, his transfer based on complaints from Opposition party is unimplementable.
But, the bench comprising chief justice Praveen Kumar declined to grant stay on the trasnfer of DG Intelligence. Terming the peition of the state government as “no case for interim relief”, the bench said it can’t interfere with decision of the Election Commission of India.
A couple of days ago Election Commission directed the state chief secretary to shift the DG Intellience AB Venkateswar Rao, Kadapa SP Rahul Dev Sharma and Srikakulam SP Venkata Ratnam with immediate effect, and also asked state not to assign them any poll-related duties.
This is the consquence of YSRC complaint that Rao had escorted a TDP leader’s vehicle carrying nearly Rs 50 crore cash meant for distribution during election to reach destination.
The transfers resulted in the palpable friction between the state and ECI.