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Bihar IPS Sunil Naik accuses Andhra Assembly Dy Speaker of threatening to implicate him

By
LO Bureau
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Sunil Kumar Nayak, IPS

Senior Bihar IPS officer M Sunil Naik (IPS:2005:BH), who was recently in the news due to his arrest by Andhra Pradesh Police, has made a serious allegation against former Andhra MP and current Deputy Speaker of the State Assembly K Raghu Ramakrishna Raju (RRR).

Naik, who is currently posted as Inspector General (IG) of Bihar Fire Services, has accused RRR of blackmailing and threatening him to speak against former state Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and suspended former Andhra CID chief P V Sunil Kumar (IPS:1993:AP) in the alleged custodial torture case of 2021.

The IPS officer took to social media platform X to allege that RRR himself had called him to blackmail him. “He sent a threatening message through my friend stating, ‘Speak against the former CM and P.V. Sunil Kumar—or you will be made an accused,” Naik says in his post.

Naik went on to say if the RRR call data records are made public, it will reveal how many people were pressured and influenced. Many were deliberately implicated in this case.

He alleged that he is being framed due to a conspiracy just because they think that tribals have no voice.

Naik alleged that Andhra police officials who had gone to his Patna residence to arrest him on Monday misbehaved with his mother when she stepped out.

He claimed that he has all the evidence and will place everything on record to ensure that those who insulted his mother answer for it before the law.

It needs to be mentioned here that after his arrest in Patna on Monday, a jurisdictional court expressed utter displeasure at the way he was arrested without caring for proper procedure and rejected his transit remand, pointing out serious procedural violations in the arrest process.

The court also directed that Sunil Naik should not be arrested for 30 days.

The case in which Naik was arrested is linked to a 2021 incident in Narsapuram in Guntur district, when the then YSR Congress MP, K Raghu Rama Krishna Raju, was arrested.

Nayak had gone to Andhra Pradesh on inter-state deputation in 2019 and was serving as DIG in the Crime Investigation Department (CID) there when it was alleged that the MP’s arrest was carried out at his behest and that Raju was subjected to physical assault while in custody.

Subsequently, Raju filed a complaint accusing then CID DIG Sunil Naik of custodial torture, leading to Nayak being booked under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

Naik returned to his home cadre, Bihar, in 2024, after the formation of the Chandrababu Naidu government in AP.

Andhra Police reportedly issued multiple summons to Naik to record his statement, but he did not respond, following which the AP Police team reached Patna to arrest him on Monday after his bail was cancelled.

Sagar Hanuman Singh get retrospective additional charge of MANAGE DG

By
LO Bureau
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National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management

Sagar Hanuman Singh, currently serving as Director General of the National Institute of Plant Health Management (NIPHM), has been given additional charge of Director General (JS level) of the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (February 24, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare for entrustment of the additional charge to him with retrospective effect from October 6, 2025 to March 29, 2026, or till the appointment of a regular incumbent, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Himachal DGP assigns IPS Aditi Singh’s duties to junior due to her frequent leave

By
LO Bureau
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Aditi Singh IPS

In an unprecedented move, the Himachal Pradesh DGP, Ashok Tiwari, after getting chafed at the frequent leave of IPS officer Aditi Singh (IPS:2021:HP), has issued an order transferring her responsibilities to a subordinate officer during her frequent leave. The order was implemented with immediate effect.

She is currently posted as Superintendent of Police (SP) in the Northern Range of the State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SV&ACB) in Dharamshala.

According to the directive, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Brahm Das Bhatia has been asked to assume her duties until further notice. It has also been stated that he will remain with Aditi Singh even during her presence in office to ensure continuity of work.

The order also states that Aditi Singh was on leave for a total of 25 days between January 8 and February 22, which affected the functioning of her office.

The order says that it has been observed that the IPS officer is frequently going on leave, due to which the functioning of the office of SP, SV&ACB, Northern Range, Dharamshala is being adversely affected.

The DGP’s order also noted that Aditi Singh had been absent from headquarters in December due to an official mid-career interaction program held in Nainital.

DGP Ashok Tiwari’s order also provides a detailed breakdown of the leave taken by Aditi Singh. According to the order, Aditi Singh was on two days’ casual leave and sick leave from January 8 to January 11, respectively.

She then took one day’s casual leave on January 12. Then, between January 16 and January 19, she took three days’ casual leave and one day’s sick leave. Later, from February 8 to February 22, she was on 13 days’ earned leave and two days’ sick leave.

Amit Meena’s deputation as Director in Skill Development Ministry extended till 2028

By
LO Bureau
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Amit Meena IAS

The central deputation of Amit Meena (IAS:2011:KL) as Director in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has been extended for a period of two years.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (February 24, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship to extend Meena’s deputation tenure for two years beyond March 30, 2026, and up to March 30, 2028, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Meena has been serving on central deputation since March 30, 2021, when he joined as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Revenue. He was also placed on compulsory wait in the Department of Economic Affairs. In August 2024, he was appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

His five-year central deputation tenure was originally scheduled to end on March 30, 2026. However, with the latest order, his tenure now stands extended up to March 30, 2028.

Dnyaneshwar Bhalchandra Patil gets additional charge of Kandla SEZ

By
LO Bureau
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Dnyaneshwar Bhalchandra Patil IAS

IAS officer Dnyaneshwar Bhalchandra Patil (IAS:2003:MP), currently serving as Development Commissioner of Santa Cruz Exclusive Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ SEZ), Mumbai, has been assigned additional charge of Development Commissioner, Special Economic Zone, Kandla.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (February 24, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the entrustment of additional charge to Patil for a period of nine months with effect from October 28, 2025 to July 27, 2026, or till the appointment of a regular incumbent, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Baldeo Purushartha gets extension as DEA Joint Secretary

By
LO Bureau
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The central deputation of IAS officer Baldeo Purushartha (IAS:2002:PB) as Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs has been extended for a period of one year.

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on Tuesday (February 24, 2026), the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has approved the proposal of the Department of Economic Affairs to extend his deputation tenure for one year beyond March 11, 2026, or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

This marks his second one-year extension as Joint Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs. Last year, on February 27, 2025, his tenure was extended for a period of one year beyond March 11, 2025.

Notably, Baldeo Purushartha has been serving in the Department of Economic Affairs since March 11, 2020.

PESB recommends Pushp Kumar Nayar as Director (HR) of BPCL

By
LO Bureau
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Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited

The Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) has recommended Pushp Kumar Nayar for appointment as Director (Human Resources) at Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL). The recommendation was made following interviews conducted by the Board on February 24, 2026.

Pushp Kumar Nayar is currently serving as Executive Director (HR) at BPCL. His name will now be forwarded to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) for final approval, subject to vigilance clearance and completion of other prescribed formalities.

The vacancy is scheduled to arise on April 1, 2026, upon the superannuation of the incumbent Director (HR), Raj Kumar Dubey. Anticipating the vacancy, PESB had advertised the post on July 8, 2025, inviting applications with August 4, 2025 as the last date for submission.

Dubey was appointed as Director (HR) through an order dated April 28, 2023, and he assumed charge on May 1, 2023.

The following 12 applicants were interviewed in the selection meeting :

  1. Pushp Kumar Nayar, Executive Director (HRD), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
  2. Parthasarthy Dewalla, Executive Director (HRS), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
  3. Sanjeev Pillai, Chief General Manager, OD Interventions (HRD), Mumbai, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
  4. K Mahendra Kumar, Chief General Manager (HR), Mumbai Refinery, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
  5. Rajnish Kumar, Chief General Manager (HRD), CO, Mumbai, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
  6. Udit Jain, Executive Director (HR), Corporate Office, New Delhi, Indian Oil Corporation Limited
  7. Goutam Datta, Chief General Manager (HR), Planning & Business Development Group (New Delhi), Indian Oil Corporation Limited
  8. Ayush Gupta, Director (Human Resources) Chairman-GAIL Mangalore Petrochemicals Ltd., Gail (India) Limited
  9. Paresh R Ranpara, Director (Human Resources), Grid Controller Of India Limited (Grid-India)
  10. Premlata, Chief General Manager (HR), NSPCL and and Regional Head of HR-WR-II, NTPC Ltd
  11. Aditya Kumar, Principal Chief Personnel Officer, Ministry of Railways
  12. Saharsh Bajpai, Principal Chief Personnel Officer, Western Railway

Centre inducts three officers as SP in CBI; Pravin Mandoi repatriated

By
LO Bureau
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CBI

The Central government on Monday (February 23, 2026) approved the induction of three officers as Superintendents of Police (SP) in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

According to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), the approval of the competent authority has been conveyed for the following appointments:

Ashok Mishra (IPS:2016:BH) has been inducted as SP in CBI for a period of five years. K Ramdass (IPS:2019:BH) has also been inducted as SP in CBI for a period of five years.

In addition, Vinod Choudhary (IRS-IT:2017) has been inducted as SP in CBI for a period of four years.

All three appointments will be effective from the date of assumption of charge of the post or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

Meanwhile, Pravin Mandoi (SPS:2004:MP), who is currently serving as SP in the CBI, has been prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre.

Union Cabinet clears proposal to rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’

By
LO Bureau
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Kerala municipality

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Tuesday approved a proposal to change the name of the state of Kerala to “Keralam”. After this approval, the President of India will refer the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026 to the Kerala Legislative Assembly. This is required under Article 3 of the Constitution. The Assembly will give its views on the proposal.

Once the State gives its response, the Centre will move ahead with the process. The President’s recommendation will then be taken for introducing the Bill in Parliament. If the Bill is passed, the name in the First Schedule of the Constitution will be changed from “Kerala” to “Keralam”.

Background

The Kerala Legislative Assembly had passed a unanimous resolution on June 24, 2024. It asked the Centre to amend the Constitution and change the name of the state.

The Assembly said the name of the state in Malayalam is “Keralam”. It also noted that the state was formed on November 1, 1956, on a linguistic basis. While people use the name “Keralam”, the Constitution records it as “Kerala”. The Assembly requested the Centre to modify this under Article 3.

Thereafter, the Kerala government requested the Centre to take necessary steps to amend the First Schedule of the Constitution by altering the name of State of ‘Kerala’ as ‘Keralam’.

What the Constitution says

Article 3 gives Parliament the power to change the name of a state. However, such a Bill can be introduced only with the President’s recommendation.

Before introduction in Parliament, the President must refer the Bill to the concerned State Legislature to seek its views within a specified period.

The proposal was examined by the Ministry of Home Affairs. After approval by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the draft note was sent to the Ministry of Law and Justice. The concerned legal departments agreed with the proposal.

With the Cabinet’s approval, the process to officially change the name from “Kerala” to “Keralam” has now moved to the next stage.

Odisha facing crisis of governance due to acute shortage of officers across administrative services

By
LO Bureau
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The Odisha government is suffering from a crisis of governance due to an acute shortage of officers across several administrative services, with hundreds of sanctioned posts lying vacant. According to the official figures presented in the Assembly on Monday, 42 posts of IAS, 67 posts of IPS, and 66 posts of IFoS officers remain vacant.

The situation is grimmer in state cadres of the Administrative Service, Police Service, and Forest Service. The Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) has 330 vacant posts, the Odisha Police Service (OPS) has 146 vacant posts, and the Odisha Forest Service (OFoS) shows a shortfall of 473 officers. The state has a sanctioned strength of 851 OPS officers, 2,248 OAS officers, and 1,058 OFoS officers.

These figures were disclosed in the Assembly after MLA Pradeep Kumar Dishari raised a question regarding the number of sanctioned posts and vacancies in the IAS, IPS, and IFoS cadres and their state service counterparts. He also sought details of officers deputed outside the state and abroad.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Mahapatra informed the House that 27 IAS officers, 28 IPS officers, and 7 IFS officers are currently on deputation to the Union govt. According to the chief minister, the state has a sanctioned strength of 248 IAS officers, 195 IPS officers, and 141 IFS officers.

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