AP govt suspends IRS officer for financial irregularities

The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday placed Indian Revenue Service officer Jasti Krishna Kishore under suspension for allegedly indulging in financial irregularities while serving as the Chief Executive Officer of State Economic Development Board (EDB).

In an order, Chief Secretary Nilam Sawhney said the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Crime Investigation Department would register cases, investigate into the irregularities and initiate necessary action within six months.

The Chief Secretary suspended the IRS officer from service based on a report on the financial irregularities submitted by the Principal Secretary, Industries, Infrastructure and Investments Department, Rajat Bhargava.

Official sources said Kishore, as EDB CEO allotted several works on nomination basis in violation of rules, resulting in financial loss to the exchequer.

Kishore, who previously served as Private Secretary to then Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapati Raju, joined the AP government on deputation and was appointed as CEO of the EDB that functioned under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister.

As soon as the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government came to power on May 30 this year, Kishore was removed from the crucial post and has been left without a fresh posting.

In the meantime, a departmental inquiry has been ordered into the gross irregularities in the EDB and the Industries Principal Secretary recently submitted the inquiry report to the government.

In her order, the Chief Secretary said Kishore would be under suspension in public interest till the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings.

"The Director General, ACB, and Director General, CID, shall register a case in this regard and investigate into the irregularities and take necessary action within six months," Sawhney added.