High court upholds transfer of 3 Andhra IPS officers by Election Commission of India

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh high court on Friday refused to stay the Election Commission of India's (ECI) decision to transfer three IPS officers, including director general (intelligence) A B Venkateswara Rao. Following the orders from the high court, the state government transferred A B Venkateswara Rao and asked him to report at the police headquarters.

The government also directed the DGP not to allot any poll-related duties to Venkateswara Rao till the elections are completed.

Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu had accused the ECI of acting under the pressure of PM Narendra Modi and effecting the transfer of IPS officers. He said though DG (intelligence) was not involved in poll duty, the central poll body ordered his transfer. The government also sent a list with the names of Nalini Prabhat, Kumar Viswajit and Kripanand Tripati Ujela to the ECI for a new director general (intelligence).

On Tuesday night, the EC issued orders transferring A B Venkateswara Rao, Kadapa SP Rahul Dev Sharma and Srikakulam SP A Venkata Ratnam. The state government issued a GO complying with the EC order and transferred three officers on Tuesday but later cancelled the transfer of Venkateswara Rao.