Senior Indian Information Service officer Tumma Vijay Kumar Reddy, who served as Commissioner of Information and Public Relations during the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government in Andhra Pradesh until recently, has landed in deep trouble.
Reddy, who faced allegations of largescale corruption during his tenure in the release of advertisements to various print, electronic, digital, and social media over the last five years, made a futile attempt to get back into the central service after the YSRCP lost power to the Telugu Desam Party-led National Democratic Alliance in the recent assembly elections.
A few days ago, Reddy got himself relieved from the state government by taking advantage of the provision of automatic relief upon completion of deputation in Andhra Pradesh and tried to report to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in New Delhi.
He informed them that his deputation had ended on June 9 and since no extension was given to him, he should be allowed to return to the parent cadre.
However, the Union Ministry refused to take him back into service unless he obtained a relieving letter from the state government.
Now, Reddy is running around the General Administration Department in Andhra Pradesh to get the relieving letter. However, the GAD authorities have refused to relieve him, stating that there was no clearance from the Chief Minister’s office.
In fact, even before his deputation formally ended on June 9, Reddy had applied to the previous Jagan government seeking an extension of deputation for two more years, hoping that the YSRCP would return to power. But all his plans were upended with the defeat of the YSRCP.
Even before TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu took charge as the Chief Minister, he gave strict instructions to the GAD authorities not to relieve any officers who were on deputation and played a key role during the Jagan government.
Apparently, the Naidu government wanted to probe the alleged acts of omission and commission committed by these officers during the YSRCP government.
Some of them include Vijay Kumar Reddy of the I&PR department, S. S. Rawat of finance, Ramakrishna of stamps and registration, Vasudeva Reddy of AP Beverages Corporation, Venkat Reddy of the Mines department, Madhusudhan Reddy of AP Fibernet Limited, and Rajeshwar Reddy of the industries department.
These officials may face investigation into the decisions taken by them during the previous government and could have to face legal cases, sources said.