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Clouds hover over SAIL Chairman Amarendu Prakash’s resignation  

By
LO Bureau
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SAIL Chairman Amarendu Prakash

The unconfirmed news of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) Chairman and Managing Director Amarendu Prakash’s reported resignation from his post has left the stakeholders in the PSU sector groping in the dark. Much to their chagrin, the mandarins at the Ministry of Steel are maintaining a stoic silence over the issue.

With the clouds of uncertainty hovering over the resignation, the rumour mill is running into overdrive, turning the resignation saga into one of the most talked-about developments in India’s public sector space. Yet the confusion persists, with the ministry officials being tight-lipped, as are the sources close to Prakash.

That Prakash has really submitted his resignation to the Government of India is yet to get any formal confirmation from the Ministry of Steel or SAIL’s board; Delhi’s bureaucratic corridors are abuzz with speculation.

The silence being maintained at the top has not diminished the spirit of rumour enthusiasts from whispering in the corridors, asking if Prakash has really resigned.

There is a perceptible dichotomy in the known facts and the undercurrent. However, multiple industry insiders and reliable bureaucratic trackers report that Prakash’s resignation has indeed been tendered and is under active consideration by the government.

With SAIL being one of India’s largest Maharatna PSUs, any abrupt departure at the helm carries far-reaching implications for investor sentiment and policymaking, especially as India charts its infrastructure and manufacturing ambitions.

An official acceptance or rejection of the resignation has to come only from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) or through an SAIL board notification.

There are also global majors showing long-term interest in acquiring experienced Indian leadership talent.

It would be a setback to the steel sector, as Prakash, who had assumed the chairmanship of SAIL in May 2023, has been a seasoned technocrat with deep roots in India’s steel sector, and his potential departure raises fresh questions about the pace and direction of strategic decisions at the state-owned steel giant.

That is the prime reason why both stock market watchers and policy analysts are now watching for signals, as pressure mounts for clarity ahead of broader PSU leadership reshuffles.

SIT finishes questioning of 14 bureaucrats in IPS Puran Kumar’s suicide case

By
LO Bureau
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IPS Puran Kumar suicide

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to investigate the suicide of senior Haryana IPS officer Y Puran Kumar (IPS:2001:HY) has completed questioning of all 14 IPS and IAS officers named in the suicide note. Their statements have also been recorded. Besides, statements of more than 70 witnesses have also been recorded by the SIT in this case, but no one has so far been arrested or held responsible for the Puran Kumar’s death.

Puran Kumar had named 14 retired and serving IAS and IPS officers of Haryana in his suicide note, including Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, DGP Shatrujeet Kapoor, former Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad, former Additional Chief Secretary Rajeev Arora, former DGP Manoj Yadav, ADGP Amitabh Dhillon, former DGP PK Agrawal, ADGP Sandeep Khirwar, ADGP Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary Kala Ramchandran, ADGP M Ravi Kiran, IG Pankaj Nain, IG Kulwinder Singh, and SP Narendra Bijarnia.

The investigating agency is now waiting for the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report to piece together evidence in the investigation and file its report in the court. Official sources say the FSL report will play a key role in determining the future course of legal action. According to him, the SIT is examining all aspects of the case in detail to ascertain the circumstances and reasons that led to Kumar’s suicide.

As per the suicide note and the police complaint lodged by his IAS wife, Amneet P. Kumar, the FIR naming the deceased officer’s gunman, Sushil Kumar, was registered as part of a conspiracy, and planned pressure was built on the deceased.

It should be recalled that an FIR had been registered on Oct 6, 2025, at the Urban Estate police station at Rohtak against IPS officer’s gunman, Sushil Kumar, for allegedly demanding a bribe, and the very next day, Sushil Kumar was arrested. On the same day, Puran Kumar committed suicide at his residence in Chandigarh.

A Rohtak resident, Praveen Bansal, complained to police that he received threats in the name of protection from goons, alleging that a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh was demanded by Sushil Kumar for providing security.

Telangana govt transfers 20 IPS officers in major police reshuffle

By
LO Bureau
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Telangana

The Telangana government on Tuesday (January 7, 2026) carried out a major reshuffle in the state police administration, transferring and posting 20 IPS officers across Hyderabad City, Cyberabad and the newly created commissionerates.

According to an order issued by the General Administration (SPL.B) Department, the transfers involve officers ranging from the rank of Joint Commissioner of Police to Deputy Commissioner of Police and Superintendent of Police. Several officers have been posted to key positions in newly created zones and commissionerates, including Future City, Malikajgiri, Rajendranagar, Shadnagar, Jubilee Hills and Khairatabad.

The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;

  1. Tafseer Iqbal (IPS:2008:TG), Joint Commissioner of Police, Law & Order, Hyderabad City, has been transferred and posted as Additional Commissioner of Police, Law & Order, South Range (comprising Shamshabad, Golconda, Rajendranagar & Charminar Zones), Hyderabad.
  2. N. Swetha (IPS:2012:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Detective Department, Hyderabad City, has been transferred and posted as Joint Commissioner of Police, Law & Order, North Range (comprising Jubilee Hills, Khairatabad & Secunderabad Zones), Hyderabad City.
  3. S.M. Vijay Kumar (IPS:2012:TG), Commissioner of Police, Siddipet, has been transferred and posted as Joint Commissioner of Police, Special Branch, Hyderabad City.
  4. Koti Reddy (IPS:2013:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Medchal Zone, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Qutbullapur Zone in the newly created Cyberabad Commissionerate.
  5. Narayana Reddy (IPS:2013:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Maheshwaram Zone, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Maheshwaram Zone in the newly created Future City Commissionerate.
  6. Rakshitha K. Murthy (IPS:2015:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, CAR Headquarters, Hyderabad City, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Secunderabad Zone in the newly created Hyderabad City Commissionerate.
  7. Suresh Kumar (IPS:2016:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Balanagar, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Uppal Zone in the newly created Malkajgiri Commissionerate.
  8. Kiran Prabhakar (IPS:2017:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Zone, Hyderabad City, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Charminar Zone in the newly created Hyderabad City Commissionerate.
  9. Dr. Anuradha (IPS:2017:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, LB Nagar Zone, Rachakonda, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, LB Nagar Zone in the newly created Malkajgiri Commissionerate.
  10. Yogesh Gautam (IPS:2018:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Commissionerate Crime, Hyderabad City, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Chevella Zone in the newly created Cyberabad Commissionerate.
  11. Ritija (IPS:2018:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Madhapur, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Kukatpally Zone in the newly created Cyberabad Commissionerate.
  12. Ch. Srinivas (IPS:2018:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Zone, Hyderabad City, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Serilingampally Zone in the newly created Cyberabad Commissionerate.
  13. Siddhama Rashmi (IPS:2019:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, North Zone, Hyderabad City, has been transferred and posted as Commissioner of Police, Siddipet, vice Sri S.M. Vijay Kumar (IPS:2012:TG) transferred.
  14. Shridhar (IPS:2020:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Malkajgiri, Rachakonda, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Malkajgiri Zone in the newly created Malkajgiri Commissionerate.
  15. K. Shilpa (IPS:2020:TG), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Central Zone, Hyderabad City, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Khairatabad Zone in the newly created Hyderabad City Commissionerate.
  16. Sreenivas (IPS), Superintendent of Police, TG Transco, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rajendranagar Zone in the newly created Hyderabad City Commissionerate.
  17. G. Chandra Mohan (SP (NC)), Deputy Commissioner of Police, South West Zone, Hyderabad City, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Golconda Zone in the newly created Hyderabad City Commissionerate.
  18. A. Ramana Reddy (SP (NC)), Deputy Commissioner of Police, SOT, Rachakonda, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Jubilee Hills Zone in the newly created Hyderabad City Commissionerate.
  19. B. Rajesh (SP (NC)), Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shamshabad, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shamshabad Zone in the newly created Hyderabad City Commissionerate.
  20. S. Irisha (SP (NC)), Intelligence, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shadnagar Zone in the newly created Future City Commissionerate.

Karnataka govt transfers two IAS officers, assigns new Secretary-level responsibilities

By
LO Bureau
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The Karnataka government on Tuesday (January 7, 2026) issued a notification effecting key changes in the posting of two IAS officers, assigning them new responsibilities with immediate effect.

According to the order, Salma K. Fahim (IAS:2006:KN), who was awaiting posting, has been appointed as Secretary, Labour Department, Bengaluru, until further orders, relieving Mohammad Mohsin (IAS) from concurrent charge. She has also been given concurrent charge of Secretary, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, Bengaluru, with immediate effect, following the transfer of Kanaga Valli M. (IAS).

Meanwhile, Kanaga Valli M. (IAS:2010:KN), Secretary, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department, has been transferred and posted as Secretary, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Legal Metrology Department, Bengaluru, relieving Dr Prasad NV (IAS) from concurrent charge.

In addition, Kanaga Valli M. has been entrusted with the concurrent charge of Managing Director, Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (KSMSCL), Bengaluru, with immediate effect and until further orders.

Centre appoints four Chief Vigilance Officers in ONGC, HPCL, RITES and MRVC

By
LO Bureau
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Chief Vigilance Officer

The Central government has approved the appointment of four Chief Vigilance Officers (CVOs) in major public sector undertakings—Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) Limited, and Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC).

As per an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), three officers have been appointed for a tenure of three years from the date of assumption of charge or until further orders, whichever is earlier, while one appointment is valid up to November 2027.

The officers appointed are:

  1. Shelly Srivastava (IRTS:2001) as Chief Vigilance Officer, ONGC, Delhi, up to November 2, 2027.
  2. Prakash Verma (ITS:1995) as Chief Vigilance Officer, HPCL, Mumbai, for three years.
  3. Vinod Kumar Sharma (ITS:1999) as Chief Vigilance Officer, RITES Limited, Delhi/NCR, for three years.
  4. Avinash Shivadas Tarhawadkar (IOFS:2001) as Chief Vigilance Officer, MRVC Limited, for three years.

Daughter of a beedi worker, young IPS Inba’s brief speech storms internet

By
LO Bureau
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IPS Inba

The story of IPS officer S. Inba is an inspiring tale of perseverance and grit. A daughter of a beedi worker mother went on to become an IPS officer with the help of the government initiative called, the ‘Naan Mudhalvan Scheme.’ Her three-minute speech at the launch of the ‘Ulagam Ungal Kaiyil’ laptop distribution scheme on January 5 reflected how the government’s intervention at the grassroots levels can produce spectacular outcomes.  

Hailing from Sengottai in Tenkasi, Inba is an engineering graduate. Despite being the daughter of a bus conductor father and a mother who rolled beedis to manage expenses, Inba set her heart on the prestigious All India Civil Services Examination after completing her engineering degree in computer science from Coimbatore in 2020.

Initially she began preparation from home after her graduation but could not make it to the Civil Services exam on her first two attempts.

Unable to shift to Chennai due to financial constraints, she decided to take help from the Tamil Nadu government’s flagship ‘Naan Mudhalvan scheme.’ She cleared the entrance exam to avail of the facility and got access to the All India Civil Service Coaching Centre in Chennai. An initiative of the Tamil Nadu govt, selected candidates are given free coaching and intensive training to crack the exam, in addition to being offered free accommodation and free food facilities.

The public library at Shengottai became her second home for two years, and the free books with internet facilities helped her come up trumps. Inba finally cleared the UPSC examination and is now a 2024 batch IPS officer. Inba is currently undergoing training as an ASP in Coimbatore.

When Inba shared the memory of her struggling days at the venue, she was greeted with huge applause. “I was seated as a beneficiary in a third or fourth row in a similar event a year back; now I stand before you as an IPS officer on the stage,” she said.

Her speech, which is storming the social media now, has the potential of inspiring millions of students who come from a modest background but do not gather the courage to transform their dreams into reality. Inba’s success story is a living example of inspiration for them.

She rubbished the belief that people from humble economic backgrounds cannot crack the prestigious exam and turn into an IAS or IPS officer. But it is not so. “The government is offering several facilities through schemes. It is we who should utilise it to succeed,” she said.

And she was speaking before an audience that included Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin, former ISRO Director Mylswamy Annadurai, and IAS officer P. Amudha, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government. They were visibly proud and cheered her with warm applause.

Major Police Reshuffle in UP; 20 IPS Officers Get New Postings

By
LO Bureau
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The Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday (January 7, 2026) carried out a significant reshuffle in the state police administration. As many as 20 IPS officers have been posted in accordance with their recently promoted ranks. While some officers have been adjusted in the same responsibilities, others have been assigned new roles.

The names of the officers and their postings are as follows;

  1. Ram Kumar (IPS:1995:UP), ADGP, Human Rights, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Logistics, Lucknow.
  2. Rajkumar (IPS:1995:UP), ADGP, Logistics, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Human Rights, Lucknow.
  3. Jyoti Narayan (IPS:1996:UP), ADGP, PTS, Jalaun, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Prayagraj Zone, Prayagraj.
  4. Dr Sanjeev Gupta (IPS:1999:UP), ADGP, Prayagraj Zone, Prayagraj, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Headquarters, Lucknow.
  5. Prashant Kumar (IPS:2000:UP), ADGP, Administration and Headquarters, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Administration, Lucknow.
  6. Tarun Gaba (IPS:2001:UP), ADGP/Inspector General, Security, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, Security, UP, Lucknow.
  7. Ashutosh Kumar (IPS:2001:UP), ADGP/Additional Police Commissioner, Police Commissionerate, Kanpur Nagar, has been transferred and posted as ADGP, UP Police Recruitment and Promotion Board, Lucknow.
  8. Aparna Kumar (IPS:2002:UP), Inspector General, Human Rights, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Joint Police Commissioner, Police Commissionerate, Lucknow.
  9. Modak Rajesh D. Rao (IPS:2003:UP), Inspector General, Railway, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Inspector General, Establishment, UP.
  10. R. K. Bharadwaj (IPS:2005:UP), Inspector General, Housing and Welfare, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Inspector General, Railway, Lucknow.
  11. Kiran S. (IPS:2008:UP), Inspector General/Deputy Inspector General, awaiting posting orders, has been transferred and posted as Inspector General, Lucknow Range, Lucknow.
  12. Anand Sureshrao Kulkarni (IPS:2008:UP), Inspector General/Deputy Inspector General, Technical Services, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Inspector General, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Lucknow.
  13. Amit Verma (IPS:2008:UP), Inspector General/Joint Police Commissioner, Police Commissionerate, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Inspector General, Economic Offences Wing (EOW), UP, Lucknow.
  14. Dr Akhilesh Kumar Nigam (IPS:2008:UP), Inspector General/Deputy Inspector General, CID, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Inspector General, CID, UP, Lucknow.
  15. N. Kolanchi (IPS:2008:UP), Inspector General/Additional Police Commissioner, Police Commissionerate, Prayagraj, has been transferred and posted as Inspector General, Railway, Prayagraj.
  16. Rajiv Malhotra (IPS:2008:UP), Inspector General/Deputy Inspector General, UP SIFS, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Inspector General, UP SIFS, Lucknow.
  17. Rohan P. Kanay (IPS:2009:UP), Deputy Inspector General, awaiting posting orders at Police Headquarters, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Inspector General, Special Investigation, UP, Lucknow.
  18. Md Imran (IPS:2011:UP), Deputy Inspector General, awaiting posting orders at Police Headquarters, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Inspector General, Housing and Welfare, UP, Lucknow.
  19. Santosh Kumar Mishra (IPS:2012:UP), Deputy Inspector General/Superintendent of Police, attached to Police Headquarters, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Deputy Inspector General, PTS, Jalaun.
  20. Vijay Dhull (IPS:2012:UP), Deputy Inspector General/Superintendent of Police, UP-112, Lucknow, has been transferred and posted as Additional Police Commissioner, Police Commissionerate, Prayagraj.

FCI Punjab GM appointment faces objection from Punjab govt

By
LO Bureau
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Map Of Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has objected to the Civil Services Board’s recommendation to post IAS officer Nitika Pawar (IAS:2012:AGMUT) as General Manager of the Food Corporation of India, Punjab Region, headquartered in Chandigarh.

In a demi-official letter sent on Monday to Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Mann said the proposed posting departs from a long-followed administrative practice. He pointed out that the GM (Punjab Region) post has traditionally gone to IAS officers from the Punjab cadre, given the state’s central role in national food grain procurement.

Referring to his earlier letter of November 6, 2025, Mann noted that Joshi had written back on December 22, conveying the Board’s recommendation. He urged the Union government to reconsider the decision, citing what he described as widespread concern and public disquiet in Punjab. Mann stressed that since the FCI was set up in 1965, the Punjab Region has always been headed by Punjab cadre officers, a practice he said was rooted in administrative necessity rather than convention.

The Chief Minister underlined that FCI’s work in Punjab is closely tied to the state’s agricultural system. Officers from the Punjab cadre, he argued, bring on-ground familiarity with local procurement cycles, storage networks and distribution arrangements. That experience, he said, is critical for smooth coordination between the Centre and the state, particularly as Punjab continues to be one of the largest contributors to the central food grain pool.

Addressing the Centre’s contention that officers from outside Punjab have also served in the role, Mann enclosed what he said was a detailed historical record. According to the data shared, all 23 regular appointments to the GM (Punjab Region) post over the last six decades were from the Punjab cadre, while officers from other cadres were assigned only temporary or ad hoc charge.

Mann maintained that his objection was not directed at any individual officer. The issue, he said, was about administrative efficiency, safeguarding farmers’ interests and maintaining public confidence in the procurement system.

He also informed the Union Minister that the Punjab government has already sent a panel of eligible Punjab cadre IAS officers and is prepared to forward a fresh panel if required. Mann reiterated his request that the Centre appoint a Punjab cadre officer as General Manager of FCI, Punjab Region.

Also Read: Sharandeep Kaur Brar takes interim charge of FCI Punjab Region

Also Read: FCI Punjab GM Post: Will Tradition Hold or Centre Break Convention?

Haryana Police drafts new security policy; rich must pay for protection

By
LO Bureau
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HPS officers' promotion to IPS

The Haryana Police has come up with a new security policy according to which the rich must pay for police protection. According to the latest regulations, only those earning over Rs 3 lakh a month or owning assets worth more than Rs 3 crore, apart from residences, will be considered for police protection. It does not mean others can’t seek police protection, as they may still opt to pay for these services voluntarily.

The regulations stipulate that security for eligible applicants shall be provided on a payment basis.

According to police sources, in case a person is unwilling to pay, but intelligence reports indicate a grave and high threat to their life, security may be provided free of charge for a limited period of three months, subject to further review.

Besides, if a police vehicle is provided, the protectee must also cover the operational and maintenance costs along with the driver’s salary. In addition to these costs, a monthly overhead charge of Rs 12,000 per security personnel will be levied to cover administrative and logistical expenses. To secure these payments, applicants have to deposit an amount equivalent to three months’ cost in advance, plus a bank guarantee for another three months.

The assessment of financial capacity will be made by the office of the ADGP CID, Police Commissioner, or Superintendent of Police (SP) after reviewing documents like income tax returns, asset statements, balance sheets, and reports from various government and revenue authorities. The cost of manpower will be calculated in accordance with guidelines issued by the home department.

It came to light during the hearing of a petition filed by senior Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala seeking a Z-plus security cover for himself and his family, in response to which SP (security-1, CID, Haryana) Lokender Singh placed these criteria before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The Haryana Police also informed the High Court that these regulations were framed on Aug 12, 2024, under the Haryana Police Act 2007 following a court order in the case of Rajan Kapur versus State of Haryana.

The new security policy is categorized into three forms: positional security for official office holders, threat-based security based on assessed danger, and payment-based security where costs are recovered from the individual.

 

TN govt pulled up for delaying prosecution of two IAS officers in tender scam

By
LO Bureau
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TN DGP appointment

The Tamil Nadu government was pulled up by the court for delaying prosecution of two IAS officers in the alleged tender scam. The govt invited the wrath of the court on Tuesday for the inordinate delay committed by it in sending the proposal for obtaining sanction for prosecuting two IAS officers in the alleged tender irregularities case.

The government came up with an explanation before the court, saying exhaustive scrutiny of papers running to huge volumes consumed considerable time and that the delay was not deliberate. The public secretary further added that the delay was purely “administrative and procedural” in nature and “devoid of malafide intention”.

The submission was made during the hearing of the contempt petition moved by Jayaram Venkatesan of Arappor Iyakkam. The petition sought punishment for the DVAC officials for not filing a chargesheet in the Rs 98-crore tender irregularities committed during the tenure of SP Velumani in the previous AIADMK government.

The government received the reports from the vigilance commissioner on January 5, 2024, but sent the proposal for sanction in August 2025. According to the govt pleas, the papers required high-level consideration and approval at the appropriate administrative level, which caused delay.

As per the directions of the court, three affidavits were filed on behalf of the public secretary Reeta Harish Thakkar, vigilance commissioner K. Manivasan, and the director of DVAC Abhay Kumar Singh. The court had asked for an explanation from the state govt for the delay in sending the proposal for sanction.

The public secretary submitted that the papers relating to the two IAS officers accounted for about 46,000 pages, which consumed considerable time in making detailed scrutiny of the records and subjecting them to rigorous tests as per the service rules and procedures.

Public secretary Reeta Harish Thakkar submitted that the delay caused in processing the proposal for sanction was not deliberate, as the department has to examine the investigation report at multiple levels and “legal scrutiny.”

To substantiate its claim, the govt also cited the DoPT’s instructions, saying thousands of pages of documents had to be translated into English from the vernacular language and submitted along with the proposal for sanction of prosecution.

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