In an unusual and surprising development, Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Wednesday sacked his high-profile public relations officer (PRO) Gatika Vijay Kumar, following intelligence reports over his alleged involvement in a major scam.
According to reports, KCR reportedly called Vijay Kumar to Pragati Bhavan late in the night and asked him to put in his papers.
What is worse, Vijay Kumar was also asked to resign from the post of general manager (corporate communications) of Telangana Transco.
Though Vijay Kumar repeatedly pleaded with the chief minister to retain him at least as the Telangana Transco official, the latter did not listen to his pleas and sacked him from that post as well. He was asked not to come anywhere near Pragathi Bhavan.
Vijay Kumar, who was an ordinary contributor in a Telugu daily in Warangal district, got into the CMO as a PRO in 2014 and became an influential person within no time.
Though there is a chief PRO in the CMO, it was Vijay Kumar who had been reigning supreme there.
He has allegedly created his own group in the CMO and indulged in a lot settlements, operating from a hotel room adjacent to Pragathi Bhavan.
He reportedly played a key role in getting postings to 20 circle inspectors in Hyderabad and allegedly resorted to illegal land dealings.
Recently, intelligence department authorities unearthed a Rs 100 crore land scam on the outskirts of Hyderabad in which Vijay Kumar was a partner. The authorities brought it to the notice of KCR and that led to his sacking, sources said.
Apparently, Vijay Kumar also incurred the wrath of several TRS leaders, including ministers and MLAs. He even did not care for KCR’s son K T Rama Rao and daughter K Kavitha.
Though several party leaders lodged a complaint to KCR against Vijay Kumar, he has given him a long rope before taking action, sources added.