AMARAVATI: The state government has suspended three officials in the finance department, including assistant secretary Nagulapati Venkateswarlu on the charge of leaking confidential information to the media. The action follows a vigilance inquiry against the officials in the secretariat.
Section officers Kasireddy Varaprasad and D Sreenu Babu too were suspended. They have been directed to stay put in the headquarters and not leave without the permission from the government. The government has also decided to initiate further disciplinary action against the officials as per the service rules.
Principal finance secretary SS Rawat said that the government found conclusive evidence against the three officials passing on sensitive and confidential information from the department by violating the service rules.
“The vigilance inquiry was ordered in the light of a series of news items published against the government in newspapers. It has been reported that Nagulapati Venkateswarlu and Kasireddy Vara Prasad passed on confidential information to another section officer D Sreenu Babu, who in turn passed the information to the media,” said Rawat.
He said the role of Venkateswarlu in leaking the confidential data has also been indicated. He added that Venkateswarlu was fully aware of the sensitivity and confidentiality of the information, but still caused unauthorised transmission of information, which primarily gave rise to suspicion of deliberate leakage of information.
The government stated that disciplinary proceedings are being initiated against Venkateswarlu for violating the rules.
“After careful consideration of the available material and having due regard to the circumstances of the case, the government is satisfied that it is necessary to place Venkateswarlu, Varaprasad and Sreenu Babu under suspension. The orders will come into force with immediate effect and they shall continue to be under suspension in public interest until conclusion of disciplinary proceedings,” said Rawat.
