AP High Court revokes suspension order against senior IPS officer AB Venkateswara Rao
By Newsmeter Network Published on 22 May 2020 10:26 AM GMT
Vijayawada: In a big blow to the YSR Congress party government, Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday revoked the suspension order against senior IPS officer, AB Venkateshwara Rao, who served in the rank of Director-General.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy led Andhra Pradesh government had in February suspended Venkateshwara Rao on charges of violating the All India Services (AIS) Rules.
Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney issued orders suspending Venkateswara Rao, and directed him not to leave Vijayawada without obtaining permission from the government, during the suspension period.
Though the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) upheld the Andhra Pradesh government's decision to suspend AB Venkateswara Rao, AP High Court set aside the CAT recommendations and revoked the suspension orders against Venkateswara Rao.
Venkateswara Rao served as Additional DG (CID) and also as Director-General (Intelligence) during the TDP government regime in between 2014 and 2019. He was not given any posting after the YSR Congress party came into power.
Former intelligence chief AB Venkateswara Rao moved the Andhra Pradesh High Court challenging his suspension by the State government for alleged misconduct in the procurement of security equipment. The move comes after the Central Administrative Tribunal dismissed his petition.
Setting aside the CAT order, the High Court on Friday directed the state government to reinstate Rao and pay him salary during the suspension period.
The state government had alleged that Rao colluded with a foreign defence manufacturing company, R.T. Inflatables Private Limited, and reportedly leaked critical police and intelligence information to the Israel-based company.
On his part, Rao moved CAT challenging the suspension order. In his petition before the CAT, Rao alleged that the Andhra Pradesh targeted him did not give him any posting and placed him under suspension on vague charges which was in violation of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India and principles of natural justice.
