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the government reinstated him as Commissioner of Printing and Stationery in the afternoon of his last day of service. He took charge of his new post and while retired in the evening, having lost five years of service due to political vendetta and baseless charges. This last-minute reinstatement means Rao will receive his pension and other benefits, a testament to his unwavering determination to clear his name and fight for his rights.
The story of AB Venkateswara Rao, a senior IPS officer, is a testament to the power of vendetta politics and the resilience of an individual in the face of baseless charges. Rao, who served as the state intelligence chief during the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) regime, was accused of procuring security-related equipment like aerostat and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) from Israel during his tenure without following rules. The charges were leveled by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) after they came to power in the state in 2019.
Rao denied the allegations, stating that the equipment was never procured in the first place. Despite this, he was suspended from service in February 2020. The suspension was upheld by the High Court, but Rao continued to fight for his rights. He moved the Supreme Court, which ultimately ruled in his favor in April 2022, stating that an All India Service officer cannot be kept under suspension for more than two years. Rao was reinstated in May 2022 and posted as Commissioner of Printing and Stationery.
However, his relief was short-lived. Rao was suspended again just a few days later, citing pending investigation of criminal charges. Rao challenged his suspension in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), which ruled in his favor on May 8, 2024. The CAT directed the government to reinstate Rao into service with all pay and allowances along with other consequential benefits. The government appealed the CAT’s order in the High Court, which once again ruled in favor of Rao.
As Rao’s retirement date approached, the government reinstated him as Commissioner of Printing and Stationery in the afternoon of his last day of service. He took charge of his new post and while retired in the evening, having lost five years of service due to political vendetta and baseless charges. This last-minute reinstatement means Rao will receive his pension and other benefits, a testament to his unwavering determination to clear his name and fight for his rights.
