In a big setback to senior IPS officer and former intelligence chief of Andhra Pradesh A B Venkateshwar Rao, the Union ministry of home affairs on Saturday confirmed his suspension in the wake of facts and circumstances of the case and seriousness of the allegations against him.
In a letter to state chief secretary Neelam Sawhney, a senior official of the MHA said the ministry had asked the state government to file a charge sheet against ABV on or before April 7.
The MHA official said the ministry had noted the allegations made against ABV in the preliminary inquiry report that he had he had committed irregularities in the procurement of aerostat and unmanned aerial vehicle at a cost of Rs 25.50 crore under the modernisation of police forces scheme (2017-18).
It has also been noted that prima facie evidence has been established on the grave misconduct and irregularities exhibited by ABV and that the DGP of Andhra Pradesh also requested the state government to take appropriate action against him and take up further investigation.
It was also noted that the state government had written to the Anti-Corruption Bureau to conduct a detailed inquiry and submit a report.
The MHA official said the request of the state government had been examined by the ministry in the light of facts and circumstances of the case and seriousness of the allegations.
“The competent authority has accordingly decided to confirm the suspension of A B Venkateswara Rao, IPS in terms of 3rd provision to rule 3(1) of the AIS (D&A) Rules,1969. The state government is requested to issue charge-sheet against the officer latest by April 7, 2020,” the letter said.
