It has been more than four months since Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu assumed power, but it seems he is yet to fully establish control over the administration, particularly in the police department.
According to a TDP leader, during the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) regime, the police at the district and mandal levels were heavily influenced by YSRCP leaders, with many officers working in close collaboration with them.
Since taking office in June, Naidu has focused on restructuring the law-and-order system at the top, but at the grassroots level, little has changed.
TDP leaders have raised these concerns with party leadership, but progress has been slow, as Naidu's attention has been on other priorities. Even senior TDP leaders have been unable to address these issues effectively.
The Chief Minister is aware of the inaction by police officials at various levels.
He realized this when police in Tadepalli and Mangalagiri failed to take strong action against YSRCP leaders involved in attacks on the TDP central office in Mangalagiri and his Undavalli residence in 2021.
Despite reopening these cases four months ago, the police have made little progress, even with access to evidence such as CCTV footage, witness statements, and call data records.
Frustrated by the slow pace of the investigation, Naidu directed the state's Director General of Police, Ch Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, to transfer the case to the Crime Investigation Department (CID), led by tough cop Ravi Shankar Ayyannar.
While the police did arrest Nandigam Suresh on September 5 in connection with the case, the state high court granted him bail on October 4. Other leaders have also secured protection from arrest until October 21.
The lack of progress is evident in other cases as well. For example, the police have made no significant headway in the Madanapalli fire case, which has also been handed over to the CID.
Similarly, the alleged torture of Undi MLA K Raghu Ramakrishna Raju during the YSRCP regime and the Kadambari Jethwani case, involving three top IPS officers, have also been transferred to the CID due to police inaction and, reportedly, threats from the accused officers.
Naidu's decision to entrust these critical cases to the CID reflects his frustration with the slow response of the police force under his administration.