The AP government has issued orders for disciplinary action against irregularities in funds committed by former CID chief N Sanjay. Allegations have been made that Sanjay has committed abuse of power and indiscipline in violation of the All India Service Rules.
During his tenure as the Director of the Fire Department, during YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime, allegations have been made against Sanjay that he had committed irregularities in the purchase of tabs and the Agni mobile app, and that he had committed irregularities. To this extent, Chief Secretary Vijayanand issued orders to initiate disciplinary proceedings against him. He has been ordered to explain the allegations of violation of service rules, indiscipline and other charges within a month.
The government has also issued a warning to Sanjay not to try to exert political pressure during the investigation. It is known that the state government has already suspended Sanjay on various charges filed, including misuse of funds. On the other hand, Sanjay has filed a petition in the High Court seeking anticipatory bail without arrest.
Former CID chief Sanjay diverted funds in collusion with contract companies in the name of designing and maintaining the Agni NOC website, mobile app, supplying 150 tabs and organizing awareness seminars for Dalits and tribals on the SC and ST Atrocities Act. Advocate General (AG) Dammalapati Srinivas brought it to the attention of the High Court.
He said that there is primary evidence that Sanjay misused funds worth Rs 1.75 crore. He explained that within a week of the agreement for the development of the Agni app, Rs. 80 lakh was paid to Sautrika Technologies in a hurry, and the money was paid without examining the progress of the app development.
He said that an agreement was signed with Kritvyap on January 30, 2024, to organize awareness programs for tribals and Dalits on the SC and ST Atrocities Act, and the money was paid to the company on that day. He said that before the agreement with Kritvyap, awareness seminars were organized in government office premises across the state under the leadership of CID officials, and Kritvyap submitted bills without organizing the seminars.
He said that the investigation has to find out and lower-level officials have to be questioned about the organization of the seminars. He said that a custodial investigation of Sanjay is necessary to uncover the facts. He expressed concern that granting anticipatory bail to Sanjay will affect the investigation.
Earlier, senior advocate S. Sriram, while arguing on behalf of Sanjay, said that the petitioner released the funds in the capacity of the head of the department only after the committee led by the officers expressed satisfaction with the design of the app.
He said that it is not right to hold the petitioner responsible for the mistakes made in the policy decisions. He said that the laptops were purchased at 5 percent less than the market price at that time. He said that there is no evidence that the money that is said to have been diverted reached the petitioner.
