The Centre on Saturday confirmed the suspension of a senior police officer of Andhra Pradesh on the request of the state government, which had placed him under suspension last month for his alleged misconduct and irregularities in purchase of security equipments. The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed the suspension of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer A.B. Venkateswara Rao. It requested the state government to issue the charge sheet against the officer by April 7, 2020. The letter by a senior official in the ministry and addressed to chief secretary noted that the allegation in the preliminary enquiry report are that Venkateswara Rao, the then Additional Director General of Police, Intelligence, committed irregularities in the procurement of Aerostat and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at the cost of Rs 25.50 crore under the modernization of police force scheme.
“It has been noted that prima facie evidence is established on the grave misconduct and irregularities exhibited by Venkateswara Rao and the DGP, Andhra Pradesh have also requested the state government to take appropriate disciplinary action and further investigation,” said the letter. The state government on February 8 requested the Director General, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Andhra Pradesh to conduct a detailed enquiry and submit report to them for taking further action in the matter. Based on a report submitted by Director General of Police Gautam Sawang, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney had issued an order on February 8 placing Rao under suspension.
The officer allegedly endangered ‘national security’ by disclosing intelligence protocols to an Israeli defence manufacturing firm. The IPS officer of 1989 batch was directed not to leave Vijayawada without obtaining the permission of the government. According to a confidential report of the police department, Rao while working as Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) during the previous government, colluded with Israeli defence equipment manufacturer RT Inflatables Pvt. Ltd to illegally award critical Intelligence and surveillance contract to his son Chetan Sai Krishna, CEO, Akasam Advanced Systems Pvt. Ltd, primary bidder on behalf of RT Inflatables.
“This proves a direct co-relation between the accused officer and a foreign defence manufacturing Firm thus establishing a direct breach of ethical code of conduct and Rule (3) (a) of All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968,” says the report. It was found that Rao’s action led to credible security threat towards the state and the nation. He is accused of willfully disclosing intelligence protocols and procedures of Police to foreign defence manufacturing firm. “This is a direct threat to national security as intelligence protocols are standard throughout the Indian Police Force.” Considered close to then chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Rao was removed as the intelligence chief after Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy assumed office in May last year. He was since waiting for a posting.
Earlier, on the eve of the elections in April, the Election Commission had ordered the transfer of intelligence chief following a complaint filed by Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). The then opposition party alleged that Chandrababu Naidu was using police officials to subvert election procedures in the state. Rao has challenged his suspension in the Central Administrative Tribunal.
