Former Intel Chief of Andhra A B Venkateswara Rao suspended for security breach

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday suspended former Intelligence Chief A B Venkateswara Rao for serious misconduct in the process of procuring the security equipment during Former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s regime.

The enquiry report revealed that AB Venkateswara Rao, the then Additional Director General Intelligence colluded with an Israeli Defence Equipment Manufacturer RT Inflatables to illegally award critical intelligence and surveillance contract to his son Aluru Chetan Sai Krishna CE of Akasam Advance Systems Private Limited.

Son Chetan Sai Krishna favoured?

The report said that direct co-relation with Foreign Defence Manufacturing Firm established an immediate breach of ethical code of conduct. The report alleged that Rao willfully disclosed intelligence protocols and procedures of police to the Foreign Defence Manufacturing firm. “This is a direct threat to national security as intelligence protocols are standards throughout the Indian police force. Prima facie evidence shows the grave misconduct and irregularities which were willfully committed, resulting in the act of treason towards State and nation,” said the report.

Use of substandard equipment, access to State secrets and act done for financial gain to his son are other charges against the ADG. The report has quoted serious reasons and suspended AB Venkateswara Rao.

A B Venkateswara Rao suspended: Violations in buying Israeli equipment

The technical qualification, contract requirements such as AMC and warranty period were downgraded on purpose to allow incompetent bidders to qualify. It was also found that the tender was launched without releasing Expression of Interest. Mandatory and essential license required from MHA, DGCA and DOT were not procured. Copies of purchased orders were misplaced purposefully. During the technical presentation, the then Additional DG CID and Operation and Logistics have sought certain clarifications on technical, financial, licensing and procedural aspects which were not complied with. The then Additional DG Operations and Logistics on December 19, 2018, raised certain points which were ignored.

The suspended officer A B Venkateswara Rao was asked not to leave the headquarters Vijayawada without obtaining the permission. Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney issued a GO on Friday placing him under suspension in public interest with immediate effect, pending initiation of disciplinary proceedings.

Speaking on his suspension, A B Venkateswara Rao said, " The fact that action has been taken against me due to illegalities is dubious. The suspension has not affected me mentally. There is no need for my friends and family to take anything into their hands regarding my suspension. I'm looking into what can be done by the law. We will get to know what's going to happen next. "

Here's what A B Venkateswara Rao's son, A. Chetan Sai Krishna has to say

" I had completed my engineering in America and had worked there for three years. I had decided to settle in India and came back in April 2017.

I'm born and brought up in Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh is my fatherland & I've always thought of living like an aspiring entrepreneur. As Hyderabad was an inappropriate place for the business I wanted to do, I registered a company in May 2017 and had begun my start-up in Vijayawada. I did it because, even if it is late, there are a lot of opportunities for people here and with a hope that I will stay close to my family.

Right from then to October 2019, I had built other start-ups and the fact that I was a partner in some is also actual. But none of them are shell companies. I couldn't see opportunities in some whereas I didn't even have time to put my foot in some. Start-ups are like this. Not all go forward and are successful. I am filing returns for all the companies I had to.

I haven't done any business with any government or any of its branches either in Andhra Pradesh or in any other state. I had not participated in any tender. What I have done until now is all in the private sector.

I have never used my father to do any business or to get any profits.

As my father is a government employee, he has a few restrictions and is not replying to any toxic propaganda. Thus, I am talking about it. I request everyone to stop involving my name as it is already affected by the poisonous political propaganda. If not, I have no other way except to sue for defamation. "