New DGPs: Anurag for T'gana, Durgaprasad for AP

HYDERABAD: Even as intense speculation is on within the IPS fraternity on who will be appointed DGPs of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, it seems senior IPS officer and Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma is set to be the first police chief of the newly-formed Telangana State.

Speculation is also rife that Director of the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) K Durgaprasad may be called back from Delhi to head the police force in the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh.

Though over the last few days, several IPS officers were seen making a beeline to meet Telangana Chief Minister designate K Chandrasekhar Rao and CM designate of AP N Chandrababu Naidu, sources revealed that top posts in the police department of Telangana have been more or less finalised.

A 1982 batch IPS officer, Anurag Sharma is said to be the top choice for the post of the Telangana DGP though the name of Aruna Bahuguna, Director of the National Police Academy too is doing the rounds.

Sources also disclosed that Additional DGP (Intelligence) M Mahendar Reddy is all set to take over from Anurag Sharma as the next Hyderabad Police Commissioner while Vizag Police Commissioner B Shivdhar Reddy will most likely be the next Intelligence chief in Telangana.

Shivdhar Reddy was transferred from Vizag. It is learnt that RP Thakur, DG, Vigilance and Enforcement, is also in the race to succeed Anurag Sharma.

There are also quite a few others who are leaving no stone unturned for the jobs of DG and Hyderabad CP. As for Seemandhra, sources said now that Narendra Modi has been appointed Prime Minister, a senior IPS officer from the Gujarat cadre may take over as the next SPG chief paving the way for incumbent K Durgaprasad, a 1981 batch IPS officer of AP cadre, to return to his parent cadre.

Durgaprasad, who previously served as IG, Intelligence, is considered close to the powers that be and could be picked for the post of DGP.

However, there are also chances of present DGP B Prasada Rao continuing in the post. And if Durgaprasad is made the DGP, speculation is that Prasada Rao could be appointed Principal Secretary (Home) in the Naidu government in Andhra Pradesh.

With regard to the Intelligence chief of AP, the name of IPS officer AB Venkateswara Rao is doing the rounds. There are some officers like AK Khan of the 1981 batch who are hopeful of getting key posts in either of the two states.

Advisors Call the Shots

It is learnt that KCR and Chandrababu Naidu have some retired IPS officers as their advisors to finalise the new postings. In Telangana, sources said it is former DGP Pervaram Ramulu while in AP, it is A Sivasankar, former intelligence chief.

A Chief Commissioner?

There is speculation that Hyderabad and Cyberabad police commissionerates could be merged and if this materialises, M Mahendar Reddy would be the Chief Commissioner.

Mahendar to succeed Anurag?

Sources tolds Additional DGP (Intelligence) M Mahendar Reddy is set to take over from Anurag Sharma as the Hyderabad Police Commissioner while Vizag Police Commissioner B Shivdhar Reddy will most likely be the Intelligence chief in Telangana.