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Kerala HC stalls trial against IAS Sriram Venkitaraman in 2019 rash driving case

By
Bureau Desk (LO)
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Sriram Venkitaraman IAS

In an important development for the Kerala bureaucracy, the High Court has stayed proceedings in the criminal trial against IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman (IAS:2013:KL) in the 2019 rash driving case.

The IAS officer is facing serious allegations of killing a journalist by recklessly driving his car under the influence of alcohol. Journalist KM Basheer was killed in the accident caused by the officer’s rash driving.

After the gap of seven years of Basheer’s death, the trial in the case began on August 1 this year.

Basheer’s widow, Jaseela had earlier filed a petition before the High Court seeking the appointment of a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) to represent the prosecution. The state govt had initially assured the court that it would appoint a SPP but later refused.

It was after the state govt’s refusal to appoint a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) to conduct the trial, Basheer’s widow, Jaseela C, moved a petition challenging the govt’s decision, contending that the government had effectively reversed the stance it had earlier taken before the High Court.

Justice G Girish briefly heard the plea on Thursday and asked the state govt to file reply on why it refused to appoint an SPP to conduct the trial.

On the other hand, A. Saifudeen Haji, director of the Siraj daily, alleged on Friday that Kerala CM V D Satheesan and Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha were responsible for the govt’s decision not to appoint a Special Public Prosecutor to take forward the trial in the Basheer death case.

 

Home Ministry orders J&K IAS Moh. Ajaz to join Arunachal Pradesh immediately

By
Bureau Desk (LO)
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AI courses for IPS

The Union Home Ministry has directed senior IAS officer Mohammad Ajaz (IAS:2012:AGMUT), currently posted as Secretary in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), to join his new posting in Arunachal Pradesh immediately or face consequences.

Ajaz had been transferred from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh through an earlier order dated September 9, 2026, but he was yet to join his new place of posting.  

The ministry’s order has now made it clear that the officer will stand relieved from J&K with effect from October 5, 2026, in case of non-compliance.

The order cites the Guidelines for Transfer/Posting of IAS/IPS officers of the AGMUT cadre, 2016, which stipulates that officers under transfer shall be relieved to join their new segment within 15 days from the effective date of transfer.

The order clearly states that in case of non-compliance with transfer orders, the officer would be deemed to have been “stand relieved”, apart from other consequences under service rules, including stoppage of salary and debarment from promotion and from central deputation.

The ministry’s orders also clarify that no representation for cancellation of the transfer order or keeping it in abeyance would be entertained.

The Centre has also instructed the J&K Chief Secretary not to draw the officer’s salary after October 5, while the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Secretary has been asked to furnish his joining report upon his arrival.

 

Sudhakar Malli Appointed RBI Executive Director

By
LO Bureau
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Reserve Bank of India

Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Sudhakar Malli as Executive Director with effect from October 1, 2026.

Prior to his appointment, Malli was serving as Chief General Manager-in-Charge of the RBI’s Department of Supervision. As Executive Director, he will oversee the Department of Supervision (Supervisory Assessment).

Malli has around three decades of experience, including more than 25 years in the supervision of banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and co-operative banks. He also has around five years of supervisory experience in overseas jurisdictions and has worked in the area of currency management.

He holds a B.Tech degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a Certified Associate of the Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB).

Anup Bagchi’s appointment as HDFC Bank’s new CEO cleared by RBI in record 20 days

By
Bureau Desk (LO)
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HDFC Bank's new CEO

ICICI Bank veteran Anup Bagchi’s appointment as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HDFC Bank has been approved by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Bagchi will have a three-year term beginning later this month.

He will be succeeding Sashidhar Jagdishan after his term ends on October 27. Jagdishan had voiced his unwillingness to seek reappointment as CEO.

Bagchi, currently serving as Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, has been at the helm of the insurer since 2023. His association with ICICI bank started way back in 1992.  

The duration of 20 days in which the RBI cleared Bagchi’s appointment bears significance as the central bank normally takes three to six months to clear the appointment of a bank CEO. HDFC Bank had sent its proposed names to the RBI only on Sep 12.

In the past, the RBI had approved Anup Saha’s appointment as Kotak Mahindra Bank’s new CEO more than six months after the bank submitted its proposed names.

HDFC Bank, the country’s largest private sector bank and the second-largest lender after SBI, said in a regulatory filing on Thursday that the RBI had accepted its proposal dated September 12 recommending two names for approval.

Though the bank did not name the candidates, the names were widely believed to be those of deputy managing director Kaizad Bharuacha and Bagchi.

Thus, the RBI’s decision marks the end of Bharuacha’s aspirations to become the bank’s CEO. He is already 61 and has been on the board for 13 years. The RBI caps a continuous board position at 15 years.

This is also the second time Bharuacha has missed the opportunity. He was earlier considered a frontrunner for the top post when founding CEO Aditya Puri retired in October 2020.

But it does not mean that Bagchi’s appointment is final, as it must be approved by shareholder and the bank’s board. The board said on Thursday that it would create a fourth whole-time director position in connection with his appointment.

Bagchi will now have to deal with a series of governance and regulatory issues faced by HDFC Bank, including the resignation of former part-time chairman Atanu Chakraborty and the RBI’s action over the bank paying a higher-than-approved interest rate to attract deposits from a state government entity.

It is important as the former bank’s CEO and CFO were each penalised Rs 1 lakh in the matter.

Besides, the bank is also facing legal proceedings over allegations concerning the mis selling of substandard debt of failed Swiss lender Credit Suisse to foreign investors, primarily in the Middle East.

These developments have weighed on HDFC Bank’s shares, which are trading near multi-year lows. The bank has the largest weight in both the Nifty and Sensex.

With Bagchi’s appointment as the new chief, the bank is set to enter a new phase under a leadership team that has undergone several changes in recent months.

 

Is KK Pathak returning to Bihar? Education Department and Development Commissioner posts in focus

By
LO Bureau
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Patna: Speculation is growing in Bihar’s administrative circles over the possible return of senior IAS officer KK Pathak (IAS:1990:BH), who is currently posted as Special Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat on central deputation. The Education Department and the post of Bihar Development Commissioner are being discussed as possible assignments for him.

Pathak has a long and widely discussed association with Bihar’s Education Department. He was appointed Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the department on June 8, 2023. During his tenure, he frequently visited schools and held meetings with district education officials, while taking strict measures concerning teacher attendance and departmental discipline. His approach drew both attention and criticism, particularly from those who disagreed with his methods.

He relinquished charge as ACS, Education, on January 9, 2024, a development that generated considerable discussion at the time. He subsequently went on leave and was transferred as Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, with additional charge as Director General of the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD). After he did not join the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, the earlier posting order was cancelled and he was transferred as Chairman-cum-Member of the Revenue Board.

In April 2025, Pathak was appointed Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat on central deputation. Later, elevated to the Special Secretary post.

Sources in administrative circles have pointed to Pathak’s recent interactions with Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit (IAS:1991:BH) during meetings between the Centre and the state government on administrative reforms in September 2026 as a factor behind the speculation about his possible return to Bihar. The Education Department, the post of Development Commissioner, or some other assignment is being discussed as a possibility, although Pathak’s return to his parent cadre and his subsequent posting remain uncertain.

Ex-Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar takes charge as Bihar’s Chief Information Commissioner

By
Bureau Desk (LO)
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Vinay Kumar ex-IPS

Patna: Former Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar (IPS:1991:BH) has taken charge as the state’s Chief Information Commissioner (CIC). Governor Syed Ata Hasnain administered the oath of office to him at Bihar Lok Bhawan a couple of days ago.

Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Chief Secretary Pratyay Amrit attended the swearing-in ceremony.

The General Administration Department (GAD) had issued a notification regarding Vinay Kumar’s appointment on Friday last week, following the approval of his name at a meeting attended by the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition.

As Chief Information Commissioner, Vinay Kumar will oversee the handling of pending cases before the Bihar Information Commission and the disposal of cases related to the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

The post of Chief Information Commissioner had been lying vacant since July 31.

Retired judicial officer Anjani Kumar Singh was also sworn in as an Information Commissioner alongside Vinay Kumar at the same ceremony.

Shyamal Misra gets additional charge as Additional Secretary in DoT

By
LO Bureau
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Shyamal Misra IAS

New Delhi: Senior IAS officer Shyamal Misra (IAS:1996:HY), Administrator (Digital Bharat Nidhi), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has been given additional charge as Additional Secretary in the department under the Ministry of Communications.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on October 2, 2026, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has accorded ex-post facto approval for the assignment of additional charge to Misra for the period from April 24, 2026, to December 31, 2026, or until the appointment of a regular incumbent or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Gyanesh Bharti gets waiver of extended cooling-off period after premature repatriation

By
LO Bureau
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Gyanesh Bharti IAS

New Delhi: The Centre has approved a waiver of the extended cooling-off period imposed on senior IAS officer Gyanesh Bharti (IAS:1998:AGMUT) following his premature repatriation from central deputation to his parent cadre, AGMUT.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Friday (October 2, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the waiver of the extended cooling-off period imposed in connection with his repatriation under an earlier order dated August 10, 2026.

Bharti’s premature repatriation was carried out at the request of the Ministry of Home Affairs while he was serving as Deputy Election Commissioner, a position he had held since August 2025. On the same day, he was appointed Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Bharti had joined the Ministry of Women and Child Development as Additional Secretary on June 19, 2024, for a four-year central deputation tenure scheduled to end on June 18, 2028.

Based on the scheduled completion of his original deputation tenure and a one-year cooling-off period, the restriction would have extended until June 18, 2029. With the ACC approving the waiver, the extended cooling-off restriction has been lifted. This could allow Bharti to be considered for another central deputation before June 18, 2029.

National Police Academy seeks MHA’s help to acquire AGMUT cadre IPS as faculty

By
Bureau Desk (LO)
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Dikshant Parade of IPS trainees
National Police Academy

In a significant development, the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in Hyderabad has sought the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)’s help to secure the services of the AGMUT cadre IPS officers to serve as faculty at the academy.  It has written to the ministry to nominate these officers for deputation at the academy.

The letter was sent to the ministry in September by SVPNPA Director Sujeet Pandey. The letter says the academy has sought the MHA’s cooperation in identifying suitable and willing IPS officers from the AGMUT cadre.

The police academy has been unhappy that AGMUT cadre IPS officers have been trying to evade postings at the country’s premier police training institution.  The academy feels their need to widen faculty representation and bring in a broader mix of policing experience.

It should be mentioned here that the National Police Academy, which trains IPS officers at different stages of their careers, said its current faculty includes officers drawn from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura and Tamil Nadu.

The academy said that the current faculty composition needs to broaden state and cadre representation by bringing in officers from other states and Union Territories.

The academy said the experience and professional expertise of IPS officers from the AGMUT cadre would be of considerable value, as the method of cross-learning would enrich the training environment and benefit officer trainees, who are drawn from different parts of the country.

Senior Odisha IAS Santh Gopalan applies for voluntary retirement

By
Bureau Desk (LO)
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R Santh Gopalan IAS
R Santh Gopalan IAS

In a significant development, senior Odisha cadre IAS officer R. Santh Gopalan (IAS:2001:OD) applied for voluntary retirement on Wednesday. The development has surprised the state bureaucracy, as it has come within a month after the Bhubaneswar DCP, Jagmohan Meena (IPS:2013:OD), resigned from the service.  

He has more than one-and-a-half years of his service left, as he is scheduled to retire in June 2028.

According to reports, Gopalan, currently serving as the Chief Electoral Officer and Secretary of the Excise Department, has cited personal reasons for the VRS.

The development is significant as Gopalan continues to hold key responsibilities in the state administration. Further details regarding his voluntary retirement application are awaited. 

Earlier, Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Meena’s resignation was accepted by the Central Government.   

Sources say the state govt had accepted Meena’s resignation on August 27 and forwarded it to the Union Home Ministry for further action. The Centre has now accepted his resignation with effect from September 11, 2026.

 

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