Suspense is building over who the kotwal of Hyderabad will be with chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy yet to make up his mind whether to bring back AK Khan, give permanent charge to police commissioner in-charge Anurag Sharma or appoint a dark horse altogether. Which of the three happens is likely to be known by Wednesday, sources told TOI.
Khan, who was away on a month-long mid-career training trip , is yet to take charge after returning to the city on Friday. Top police sources revealed that Khan was told to extend his leave to enable the CM to make up his mind on the key posting.
Those in the reckoning include Lokendra Sharma, AP Transco’s additional MD (vigilance and security), CID additional DG SV Ramana Murthy, SPG IG Sundeep Lakhtakia and AP Police Academy director N Sambasiva Rao.
The matter has been held up as DGP V Dinesh Reddy, too, was overseas on a vacation. The DGP had to rush to Nellore on Monday after returning to the city on Saturday for a review meeting ahead of the bypolls. “The chief minister, too, is busy with the bypoll campaign; but the decision on the Hyderabad police chief is likely to be taken by Wednesday,” sources said.
If Khan is relieved of the job, the possible openings for him include that of vice-chairman and MD of APSRTC or chief of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Sources said that Khan is not averse to these postings but, for that to happen, either of incumbents B Prasada Rao or D Bhoobathi Babu will have to vacate his chair.
Alternatively, Khan can be considered for the post of additional DG of prisons, a post that has been lying vacant since the superannuation of CN Gopinatha Reddy. According to sources, however, this posting may not be to Khan’s liking.
Sources said the decision on the new city police chief has to be taken at the earliest.
“The festival season, as far as Hyderabad is concerned, follows on the heels of the bypolls and will last till January next year. Therefore, it is imperative that a permanent police chief is in place as soon as possible,” a source added.
Those in the reckoning – should Khan be removed from his post – include Lokendra Sharma, an AP Transco additional MD, CID additional DG SV Ramana Murthy, SPG IG Sundeep Lakhtakia and AP Police Academy director N Sambasiva Rao.
–Courtesy:TOi