The Telangana government on Wednesday announced transfers among top IPS officers in Hyderabad. The state government has transferred VC Sajjanar, the Cyberabad Police Commissioner and appointed Stephen Raveendra IPS in his place. Stephen Raveendra, a 1999-batch IPS officer was serving as Inspector General of West Zone. The IPS officer has previously been the DIG of Grey Hounds, an elite Special Task Force that was formed to deal with naxals.
Two years ago, Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy wanted Stephen Raveendra to join the Andhra Pradesh force as the state Intelligence chief. Stephen Raveendra has served as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) for Jagan's father and former AP CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy. After Jagan wrote to Telangana CM KCR and Home Minister Amit Shah, Stephen Raveendra took leave and moved to Vijayawada. Though he went on leave between June to August 2019, his inter-cadre deputation was not cleared. Such deputations have to be approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) which is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
VC Sajjanar, the Cyberabad Police Commissioner has been appointed as the Managing Director of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC). The TSRTC had remained without a Managing Director since 2019 post the retirement of then MD, GV Ramana Rao. Sajjanar has completed three years as Cyberabad Police Commissioner and was recently promoted as Additional Director General. His transfer seems to be a routine one. As police commissioner, Sajjanar has been known to crack down on drunk driving and for his efforts during the pandemic including increased patrolling, plasma donation drives etc.
His transfer however comes at a time when the Supreme Court-appointed inquiry commission is probing the encounter killing of the four accused in the gang-rape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad. The Supreme Court had directed the Telangana government to present its evidence before it on August 21. The commission is expected to examine 18 witnesses from August 26 to 28.
Sajjanar was also the Superintendent of Police, Warangal district in 2008 where 3 men were killed in an encounter over their involvement in acid attacks on two young women. In both instances of police encounters, the accused were killed when taken for recreating crime scenes.
With the new posting, Sajjanar who has held various posts including Head of the Special Intelligence Bureau will be moved into a position that does not deal with law and order.
Anil Kumar, the 1996 IPS batch officer will be taking over as the Additional Director General of Police, Intelligence relieving Dr T Rabhakar Rao, who has retired.