The suspension of senior police officer of Andhra cadre, A.B. Venkateswara Rao (IPS:1989:AP), has been extended for another four months by the state government.
Rao was suspended on February 8 on grounds of financial misconduct in the procurement of security equipment, while he was working as ADG Intelligence.
He was accused of committing irregularities in the purchase of aerostats and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) at the cost of Rs.25.50 crore. He was also accused of “endangering national security” by sharing intelligence protocols with an Israeli Defence firm.
It is alleged that he illegally awarded critical intelligence and surveillance contract to a firm headed by his son, on behalf of the Israeli company.
Considered close to the then Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu, the 1989 batch IPS officer Rao was removed as intelligence chief after Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy came to power in May last year. He was since waiting for a posting.
