State government transfers Intelligence DG

Amaravati: The state government transferred the Director General of Intelligence A B Venkateswara Rao on Friday shortly after the High Court rejected its plea challenging the Election Commission's order. Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Punetha issued a GO transferring Rao and directing him to report to the police headquarters. He will not be entrusted with any election-related duties.

Earlier in the day, the High Court refused to intervene in the Election Commission's order transferring three police officials, including Venkateswara Rao.A division bench headed by Chief Justice C Praveen Kumar declined to stay the transfer of the police officials.

The court, which had reserved its orders on Thursday, ruled that there was no case for interim relief. The state government had challenged the EC move transferring intelligence chief Rao, Srikakulam superintendent of police Venkata Ratnam and Kadapa superintendent of police Rahul Dev Sharma.

Advocate General D Srinivas told the court that the EC's move was biased as it took a different stance in a similar case in Jharkhand. He said the poll panel took immediate action on a complaint by the opposition YSR Congress Party.However, appearing for the EC, D Prakash Reddy submitted to the bench that the decision was taken in a normal course of action to ensure free and fair elections.

The EC on Tuesday ordered transfer of three police officials following a complaint by YSRCP that they were working in favour of ruling TDP. The Chief Secretary had issued an order the same day, transferring the officials.