TELANGANA: IAS officer Syed Rizvi takes VRS amid row with excise minister
HYDERABAD: Senior IAS officer Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi’s voluntary retirement (VRS) has taken a new turn amid reports of friction with the excise minister. While speculation in government circles suggested Rizvi resigned to take up a corporate position, a complaint by excise minister Jupally Krishna Rao to chief secretary K Ramakrishna Rao has brought another angle to light.
Minister alleges non-compliance, procedural delays
According to sources, the minister sent a six-page letter to the chief secretary alleging that Rizvi, as principal secretary of the excise department, disregarded his instructions on several matters. The minister reportedly pointed out that the contract for printing holograms on liquor bottles has been given to the same company for 11 years, and despite orders to invite fresh tenders a year ago to adopt new technology, Rizvi allegedly delayed the process.
The letter is also said to mention that Rizvi’s refusal to clear a proposal allowing Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD) to produce 90 ml liquor bottles, along with bureaucratic delays, caused a loss of over ₹2,000 crore to the state exchequer. The minister further accused Rizvi of unilaterally cancelling compounding fees for some bars and delaying the resolution of petitions from bar and wine shop associations.
Files ‘deliberately’ delayed, says complaint
The letter reportedly claimed that Rizvi ignored instructions from the minister’s office and misled officials by insisting that certain departmental decisions required cabinet approval. It alleged that even files that did not need clearance from the chief minister’s office (CMO) were sent there “only to delay” work. The minister requested disciplinary action against Rizvi for “defying official orders” and “violating departmental norms.”
Rizvi’s VRS approved
Rizvi, a 1999-batch IAS officer, submitted his voluntary retirement application citing personal reasons, which the government has accepted. His retirement will take effect from October 31, as per an order issued by the chief secretary on Wednesday.
An IIT Kanpur alumnus in electrical engineering and an IIM Ahmedabad postgraduate in marketing and public policy, Rizvi is known as a straightforward officer. He is currently principal secretary for commercial taxes and excise and holds additional charge of general administration. Though he still had 10 years of service left and was eligible for senior postings, including chief secretary, Rizvi opted for VRS after 26 years in the civil service. “It has been a deeply fulfilling career,” he told Eenadu, adding that he took the decision after consulting his family.
Reshuffle in IAS postings
Following his retirement approval, Raghunandan Rao, commissioner of commercial taxes, has been given additional charge as principal secretary of the department. Sandeep Kumar Jha, special secretary (roads and buildings), has been posted as endowments commissioner. Bhavesh Mishra replaces Valluru Kranti as director of mines and geology, and Garima Agarwal has been transferred from Siddipet to Sircilla as additional collector (local bodies).
