The YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday moved a special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the state high court’s recent order revoking the suspension of senior IPS officer and former intelligence chief A B Venkateshwar Rao.
The Jagan government requested that the Supreme Court stayed the high court order and continued the suspension of Venkateshwar Rao. The petition is expected to come up for hearing after July 6.
However, Venkateshwara Rao had already filed a caveat petition in the Supreme Court to pre-empt the latter from taking up the state government’s SLP. He has prayed the court to see that his job is restored and he be posted in a suitable position.
On May 22, the state high court has set aside the suspension of Venkateswara Rao and directed the state government to reinstate him to the regular service.
The court also directed the government to pay his salary for the period of his suspension setting aside the directions given by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) to file a case against the senior IPS officer.
The Jagan government suspended Venkateshwar Rao on February 8, following a report that he had allegedly involved in irregularities during the purchase of surveillance equipment from Israeli firm RT Inflatable Objects and awarding the contract to Akasam Advanced on Company, owned by Rao’s son.
However, Rao knocked the doors of CAT challenging the state government’s suspension, but the CAT dismissed his petition and told the government to go ahead with the investigation by filing cases against the latter. He later moved the high court challenging the CAT order.
