Senior IPS officer and former Andhra Pradesh intelligence chief A B Venkateshwar Rao, who was sacked from his post by the Election Commission, got yet another plum post on Monday.
Now that the polling for Andhra Pradesh assembly and Lok Sabha are over, the Andhra Pradesh government posted Venkateshwara Rao as the Director General of Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Orders to this effect were issued by chief secretary L V Subrahmanyam apparently under the directions of the Election Commission.
It may be mentioned that on March 26, Venkateshwara Rao was ousted as DGP (intelligence) by the Election Commission and was directed to keep away from all election related work till the election process is completed.
As per the norms, the process would be completed only after May 23, since anything might happen during this period. But surprisingly, Rao was given the plum posting within 10 days of the polling.
The transfer of Venkateshwara Rao without any reasons, following a complaint from YSRC leaders, had triggered a controversy with chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu confronting with the EC.
The government refused to implement the EC order and challenged it in the High Court. The HC refused to interfere in the matter. The government had to implement the EC order the next day.
Later, the EC removed then chief secretary AK Puneetha for defying its order. The EC appointed senior IAS officer LV Subrahmanyam as the new chief secretary, again drawing protests from the chief minister.