The state government on Tuesday suspended senior IPS official and Godavari Valley Development Authority chairman Umesh Kumar “in public interest with immediate effect for absconding from his official duties”. The government was acting on a recommendation made by DGP V. Dinesh Reddy to suspend Mr Kumar. The two have been engaged in a series of legal battles.
The DGP, in a letter to the government on June 16, had stated that it was a “grave misconduct” on Mr Kumar's part of not being available either in his official residence or office when CID officials visited the two places to execute a non-bailable warrant against the officer in a forgery case. Earlier on the same day, CID additional director general S.V. Ramana Murthy had written to the government explaining about the case and the NBW issued against the official.
The government obtained a report through the planning department principal secretary on June 16 itself in which it was stated that Mr Kumar had last attended office on June 11 and had neither applied for any leave nor given any information to higher authorities. Subsequently, the government issued the suspension order under Rule 3 (3) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969. The official has been asked to remain in the state headquarters during suspension and not to leave without prior permission. Mr Kumar, meanwhile, met chief secretary Pankaj Dwivedi and explained his position.