In a significant administrative reorganisation, the Andhra Pradesh government has named IAS officer Praveen Aditya as the new Managing Director (MD) of AP FiberNet. This is following the removal of both the Chairman and MD on charges of misconduct and internal strife.
The row started when ex-Chairman G.V. Reddy publicly criticized former MD Dinesh Kumar, and disciplinary action was initiated. The government took this as a violation of norms, and the two were eventually forced to resign and get dismissed. Kumar was also divested of his portfolios in four departments and asked to report to the General Administration Department (GAD) without any new assignment.
With Praveen Aditya leading the charge, the state government has launched a massive clean-up operation in AP FiberNet. There have been reports of mismanagement of finances, corruption, and irregular hires, with charges that posts were distributed on recommendations via WhatsApp and not through the proper selection procedure. These complaints had earlier been a source of tension between the former Chairman and MD.