Liquor scam: ACB DG to be axed next - TeluguPeople.com News

HYDERABAD: Firm on his stand that he will not relieve senior IPS officer K Sreenivasa Reddy at least for the next few days, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) director general D Boobathi Babu is likely to be issued marching orders by the state government within a week. Tarini Prasad Das, a 1979 batch IPS officer, was shortlisted to replace Boobathi Babu.

Meanwhile, Sreenivasa Reddy attended office on Thursday and continued with the investigation into liquor syndicate operations.

Government sources disclosed that Boobathi Babu's stand of not relieving Sreenivasa Reddy and not allowing B Shivdhar Reddy to assume charge did not go down well with police top brass who hold the view that the government's order cannot be challenged.

Though Boobathi Babu did find several supporters among his own fraternity who feel the ACB was doing a good job, the top brass is of the view that the government was 'hurt' by the DG's stand.

Boobathi Babu had also shot off a letter to chief secretary Pankaj Dwivedi, in which he is understood to have said the government transfer him as well, along with Sreenivasa Reddy.

Tarini Prasad Das, who has mostly been on deputation in the last several years and heading the Special Protection Force (SPF) at present, is among those who will be promoted to the DG rank shortly.

Sources said before his posting to SPF, Das was offered the post of ACB DG, but he refused. 'Now, he may be ordered to take up the assignment,' they said. His likely posting as ACB DG may come along with the transfer of other officers, which is due next week.

Meanwhile, unfazed by all the hullabaloo surrounding his promotion as IGP and abrupt transfer to Coastal Security, K Sreenivasa Reddy went to the ACB office as usual though it was a government holiday on Thursday.

Sreenivasa Reddy walked into the office in the morning and continued to work till evening during which he went through several files containing information on liquor syndicates in Visakhapatnam district.

Sources said he is unlikely to be relieved for the next five days which would mean Shivdhar Reddy who was to replace him as additional director of ACB, will be without work till then. Shivdhar was sent back by Boobathi Babu when he arrived at the ACB office to take charge on Wednesday.

Sreenivasa Reddy's presence is required for filing affidavits in the High Court shortly in connection with the liquor syndicates case.

An official, however, said once Sreenivasa Reddy leaves ACB and with strong indications that even Boobathi Babu could be transferred, the sensational probe into liquor syndicates would put in cold storage.

Ever since the ACB was entrusted with the probe, its regular work of checking corruption in government departments had taken a back seat, sources said.