Andhra Pradesh ACB Initiates Case Against Suspended IAS Officer
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Amaravati, Dec 24 (NationPress) The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of Andhra Pradesh has taken a significant step by filing a case against the suspended senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, N. Sanjay, for purported financial misconduct.
The Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led NDA government had previously mandated an ACB investigation into Sanjay's activities, who held the position of Director General of State Disaster Response and Fire Services as well as Chief of Crime Investigation Department (CID) during the prior administration of the YSR Congress Party.
This inquiry was initiated based on findings from the Vigilance and Enforcement (V&E) Department, which investigated the accusations against the IPS officer.
The ACB reached out to Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari to obtain authorization for proceeding against Sanjay under Section 17 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Following the Chief Secretary's consent, the ACB officially filed the case.
Sanjay, currently serving as the Additional Director General of Police, has been identified as the primary accused.
Sautrika Technologies Infra Private Ltd. and Kritvyap Technologies have been named as the second and third accused, respectively.
Allegations suggest that this 1993-batch IPS officer was implicated in various irregularities during his tenure as the Director General of State Disaster Response and Fire Services.
The V&E Department reportedly uncovered a misappropriation of funds amounting to Rs 2 crore.
Sanjay allegedly awarded a contract to Sautrika Technologies for managing the AGNI-NOC website, developing a mobile app, and supplying 150 tablets.
It is claimed that Rs 59.93 lakh was disbursed to the company without any tangible work completed.
Furthermore, Sanjay is accused of approving a payment of Rs 1.19 crore to Kritvyap Technologies on behalf of the CID for conducting awareness programs regarding the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act targeting Dalits and tribal communities.
The state government suspended Sanjay on December 4 for purported breaches of conduct regulations.
An order was issued by the General Administration Department, placing the former CID Chief under suspension in accordance with Rule 3 (1) of All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules, 1969.
Sanjay was instructed to remain at his headquarters.
During the previous administration of the YSR Congress Party, Sanjay, as the CID Chief, oversaw investigations into cases concerning the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation scam and the alignment of the Amravati Inner Ring Road, which implicated the then Leader of Opposition and TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu. These inquiries led to Naidu's arrest, during which he spent nearly two months in jail.
After Naidu took office as the Chief Minister in June following the electoral success of the TDP-led NDA, Sanjay was reassigned and directed to report to the DGP's office.
