Why Was Andhra IPS Officer Sanjay's Bail Plea Denied?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sanjay's bail plea denied amid serious allegations.
- Investigations focus on financial misconduct.
- Former positions included Director General of key departments.
- Supreme Court involvement emphasizes accountability.
- Implications reach beyond personal consequences.
Vijayawada, Oct 13 (NationPress) The ACB Special Court has rejected the bail application of senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer N. Sanjay, who is under investigation for the alleged misappropriation of government funds.
As a result of the court's decision, Sanjay will remain detained in Vijayawada district jail.
Sanjay, a 1996-batch IPS officer, previously held positions as Director General (DG) of the A.P. State Disaster Response & Fire Services and Additional DG of the Crime Investigation Department (CID).
He faces allegations of manipulating the tender process for the development and maintenance of the AGNI - NOC (Governance & NOC Integration) web portal and mobile application, as well as unlawfully supplying hardware to a private firm in 2023.
Further accusations claim that Sanjay directed the procurement of equipment without issuing tenders. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is also examining possible irregularities in payments to private entities and project execution.
Last month, the ACB interrogated Sanjay for three consecutive days, focusing on claims of financial misconduct, misappropriation of funds, and procedural breaches during his service across various police department divisions.
Sanjay surrendered to the ACB Court on August 26, following directives from the Supreme Court.
On July 31, the Supreme Court overturned the anticipatory bail previously granted to Sanjay by the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
The High Court had conditionedally granted anticipatory bail to Sanjay in January 2025, citing his status as an IPS officer as a factor against the likelihood of him fleeing.
The State subsequently filed a Special Leave Petition with the Supreme Court to contest the High Court's ruling. The Supreme Court criticized the basis for the anticipatory bail and instructed Sanjay to surrender within three weeks.
During the YSR Congress Party's previous term, as the head of CID, Sanjay oversaw investigations into the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation scam and the alignment of the Amravati Inner Ring Road, which implicated the then Leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu. These investigations led to Naidu's arrest, during which he spent nearly two months in custody.
Following Naidu's re-election as Chief Minister in June 2024, Sanjay was reassigned to report to the office of the DGP.
The coalition government also initiated a probe by the Vigilance & Enforcement (V&E) Department concerning the allegations against Sanjay.
The Vigilance report suggested that the government take appropriate legal action against Sanjay under the Central Services Conduct Rules.
The government suspended Sanjay on December 4, and the ACB opened a case against him on December 24 for alleged misuse of funds.