How Chandrababu is cracking whip on central services ‘babus’ brought to AP on deputation by Jagan

TDP leaders allege these civil servants were reporting directly to their ‘political bosses’, bypassing department heads to aid YSRCP politically and financially.

File photo of Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu | ANI

Hyderabad: Around half a dozen officers from various central services, deputed to Andhra Pradesh during the previous administration led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, are now under separate probes initiated by the Chandrababu Naidu-led government for alleged irregularities and actions that TDP functionaries claim caused huge loss in state revenues, while lining the pockets of YSRCP leaders.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders allege these civil servants were reporting directly to their ‘political bosses’, bypassing department heads and the chief secretary. Notably, most officers facing probes are Reddys–same community as the YSRCP chief and former chief minister.

Among the officers facing scrutiny are Indian Railway Traffic Service (IRTS) officer D. Vasudeva Reddy, Indian Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) officer Madhusudhan Reddy, Indian Information Service (IIS) officer Thumma Vijay Kumar Reddy, V.G. Venkata Reddy of the Indian Coast Guard and Indian Defence Estate Service (IDES) officer Dharma Reddy.

They are being probed in separate cases by various state agencies including the Crime Investigation Department (CID), Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and state vigilance wing.

“Every case is different and they are at various stages of investigation by several agencies. There is no centralised probe into these reported offences,” Andhra Pradesh DGP Tirumala Rao told ThePrint.

“I have no intimation or official information. My knowledge on proceedings against me is from media reports only. I have nothing to comment,” one of the officers mentioned above told ThePrint over the phone.

Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy, a senior TDP leader, alleged Jagan picked “resourceful officers in key revenue generative positions for an unobstructed embezzlement of funds”.

“YSRCP CM meticulously selected these go-getters, who are not known for their administrative efficiency, honesty. These henchmen, disguised as central cadre officers, came, aided in the loot by Tadepalli palace (Jagan’s camp-office) and were escaping back to their cadre when the TDP-led government hooked them,” Anam, also the party spokesperson, said.

He added that many ‘babus’ accused in the disproportionate assets (DA) and alleged quid pro quo investments cases involving Jagan were IAS officers, some of whom were later arrested and spent time behind bars.

“Once bitten, twice shy. So, Jagan has apparently gone for some central service officers this time, while grossly mis-utilising few AP officers too, especially those conferred IAS,” Anam said.

Adding, “Nevertheless, it is AP bureaucracy that again earned a bad name.”

YSRCP leader Kakani Govardhan Reddy, who served as agriculture, cooperation minister in Jagan’s cabinet, alleged that the moves are proof of Naidu exacting political vengeance on civil servants. 

“While he (Naidu) kept several IAS, IPS officers here without posting, the CM is also disallowing officers deputed from the Centre to go back to their cadres. The action in some cases is based on frivolous complaints, while some on inadequate charges, incomplete investigations.” he told ThePrint. 

A senior civil servant from the state underlined on condition of anonymity the dependence on officers on deputation from central services, “as many state cadre officers, despite political pressure, will be wary of being involved in such wrong doings as they continue to serve here and can be held accountable anytime, as regimes change.”

Here, ThePrint looks at some of the civil servants at the centre of a political tussle in Andhra Pradesh.

Vasudeva Reddy (APSBCL)

Managing director (MD) of Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL) from September 2019 till April this year, when the ECI removed him from the post based on complaints by the TDP and BJP complaints, D. Vasudeva Reddy was the first civil servant to face a probe after the TDP-led government came to power in the state in June this year.

The APSBCL, while procuring liquor from distilleries, was also operating the 2,934 liquor retail outlets across the state during Jagan’s tenure.

A white paper CM Naidu released in the assembly last month alleged the excise policy implemented by the previous YSRCP government caused losses in excise revenue to the tune of Rs Rs 18,860 crore. It accused APSBCL of large-scale irregularities such as cash-only transactions at liquor vends, which it said helped some individuals make illegal monetary gains.

After he was purportedly spotted moving important files and hardware in a car, CID filed a case of destruction of evidence, theft, and criminal conspiracy against Vasudeva Reddy on 6 June, followed by raids at his Hyderabad residence.

Though Reddy had been untraceable since the first week of June, local media reports suggest he may have appeared before CID officials last week.

ThePrint reached Ayyanar Ravi Shankar, Additional Director General of Police, CID, for further clarity and is awaiting a response.

V.G. Venkata Reddy (APMDC)

V.G. Venkata Reddy, former director of the state government’s mines and geology department and former MD of Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC), was suspended by the Naidu-led government on 31 July—the same day his deputation was supposed to end, effectively blocking his repatriation to the parent organisation.

The action was based on a departmental probe which accused Reddy of irregularities, and violations of rules, as well as the orders of various courts and the NGT, which it said caused huge revenue losses to the state while accruing gains to private parties.

A white paper released by the TDP government last month alleged “looting of mineral wealth and sand” coupled with “inefficient administration” of the mines sector caused a loss of Rs 19,137 crore to the exchequer.

“We have (this week) also received the necessary permission under the Prevention of Corruption Act. We are in the process of collecting information to register a case (against him),” Atul Singh, director general, ACB, told ThePrint.

V.G. Venkata Reddy, too, has been untraceable since the first week of June.

Madhusudhan Reddy (APSFL)

Madhusudhan Reddy, who was MD of Andhra Pradesh State FiberNet Ltd during Jagan’s tenure, was placed under suspension by the government last week on charges of irregularities and financial mismanagement.

A public sector undertaking (PSU), APSFL has a mandate to provide affordable internet and connectivity services in rural parts of the state.

The suspension order issued by chief secretary Neerabh Prasad said the alleged “irregularities have significant financial repercussions, resulting in revenue loss to the State exchequer and undue gains to several private persons.”

Initiating disciplinary proceedings against Reddy under the Central Civil Services (CCA) Rules, 1965, the state government barred him from leaving Amaravati. The Naidu-led government also requested the Chairperson of the Railway Board to extend the deputation of the IRAS officer for another six months beyond 22 August, citing the ongoing probe against him.

It also expressed apprehensions about the possibility of Reddy influencing others to tamper records and destroy evidence to cover up his misdeeds, “as many in APSFL are private persons hired during his tenure as MD”.

Last week, the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) reportedly stayed Reddy’s suspension and issued notices directing the state and central governments to file their counter affidavits.

Dharma Reddy (TTD)

In July, the Naidu-led government ordered a vigilance department probe into allegations of irregularities against Dharma Reddy pertaining to his tenure as executive officer of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), the trust which manages the famed Tirumala temple and other shrines.

The IDES officer, earlier posted in New Delhi, was deputed to Andhra Pradesh not long after Jagan came to power in 2019. Reddy was appointed joint executive officer, TTD, and later executive officer—a position historically occupied by IAS officers.

Allegations against Dharma Reddy include misappropriation of funds, misuse of position to accrue capital for the YSRCP, allotment of civil works sans requisite approvals and mismanagement of the Sri Venkateswara Aalayala Nirmanam trust (SRIVANI trust).

Days after he took office in June, CM Naidu visited the Tirumala temple and declared that the process to “cleanse” the state of misadministration associated with the YSRCP would “begin from Tirupati”.

Thumma Vijaya Kumar Reddy (I&PR)

Thumma Vijaya Kumar Reddy served as commissioner, information and public relations department, during Jagan’s tenure. 

The IIS officer is accused of extending undue favours to Sakshi, a Telugu daily owned by a media group of which Jagan’s wife is chairperson, in the form of hundreds of crores of government advertisements.

(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)