The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered a probe by the Vigilance Enforcement department against former Information and Public Relations Commissioner Thumma Vijay Kumar Reddy, who had spent hundreds of crores of rupees towards advertisements for Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy family owned Sakshi news paper.
The government received a large number of complaints that Vijay Kumar was involved in massive corruption during his tenure by converting the I&PR office into the office of YCP. The Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has directed the Chief Secretary to investigate the irregularities committed by Tumma. T
Vijay Kumar Reddy of 1990 batch officer was brought on deputation from the Central Services by Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy on 11th June 2019. During his tenure as I&PR Commissioner, more than half of the budget towards advertisement, to the extent of Rs 400 crore was given to Sakshi media.
Since then, allegations have been coming against him alleging violations of rules and regulations. The coalition government is going to investigate the irregularities in his release of advertisements to the media during his tenure from 2019 to March 2024.
Just ahead of elections after expiry of his deputation to the state on June 9th, he lobbied for extension for another two years and the then Chief Secretary Jawahar Reddy also forwarded his request giving state government’s acceptance. He sought extension of deputation with a confidence that YCP would return back to power.
However, as YCP has faced a disastrous defeat on June 4, within two days of poll results he requested to relieve him immediately from state services and sought posting in the central services.
After that, there was a big uproar when Vijay Kumar Reddy asked the Chief Secretary, ‘I don’t want extension of deputation.. want to relieve myself within two days.. relieve me’.