The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday (19.06.2024) appointed senior IPS officer Dwaraka Tirumala Rao (IAS:1989:AP) as Director General of Police (DGP – Head of the Police Force) of state. The order was issued late in the night on June 19.
It is important to note that Rao was appointed as DGP Coordination in the office of the DGP, Head of Police Force (HoPF), and given Full Additional Charge (FAC) as DGP (HoPF) until further orders.
The incumbent DGP Harish Kumar Gupta (IPS:1992:HP) was transferred and posted as Principal Secretary (Home), a separate order said.
Prior to this assignment, Rao was Commissioner of Public Transport Department and ex officio Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of A.P. State Road Transport Department (APSRTC).
Rao had worked in different position as Additional Director General (ADG) of Crime Investigation Department (CID) during earlier TDP regime. He also worked as Commissioner of Police, Viayawada before getting promoted as DGP and subsequently posted as Commissioner of PTD and ex-officio VC&MD of APSRTC.
Despite being the senior-most officer among DG rank officers in the state, the YSRC government initially appointed K Rajendranath Reddy (IPS:1992:AP) as DGP. However, Reddy was transferred by the Election Commission following complaints of favoritism during the Lok Sabha elections, leading to the appointment of Harish Kumar Gupta, who is junior to Rao, as DGP.
