Andhra govt transfers IAS officer Vikas Marmat after Bengaluru pub row

Andhra Pradesh IAS officer Vikas Marmat has been transferred with immediate effect after a controversy over an alleged altercation with Bengaluru police personnel during a late-night pub inspection. A case was registered against him and three others following the incident, prompting the state government to take action.

Amaravati: The Andhra Pradesh government has transferred IAS officer Vikas Marmat following a controversy over an alleged altercation with police personnel at a pub in Bengaluru.

Marmat, who was serving as Project Director of the Kuppam Area Development Authority (KADA), has been directed to report to the General Administration Department (GAD) for further posting.

---

According to a government order issued by the Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad, the 2019-batch IAS officer has been transferred with immediate effect.

The Chief Secretary has asked the Collector and District Magistrate of Chittoor district to make the necessary in-charge arrangement for the post of Project Director, KADA.

The transfer comes after Bengaluru’s Cubbon Park police registered a case against Marmat and three others over an alleged confrontation with police officers during a late-night inspection.

The incident had occurred around 1.30 a.m. on October 10 at a pub on Residency Road in Bengaluru.

A police team conducting checks at bars and restaurants asked customers to produce identification documents to verify their ages. Marmat and his companions allegedly argued with the officers, abused them and assaulted or threatened police personnel while they were on duty.

A case was registered against Marmat and others at Cubbon Park Police Station following a complaint filed by police Inspector Arun Salunke. The other accused were identified as Abhay Uday Singh, Nitesh and Roshan.

According to the complaint, a group of men used foul language, assaulted the inspector and his colleagues, and threatened them, besides obstructing the police from performing their duties.

The FIR was registered under Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of duty), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

A video of the confrontation was widely circulated on social media.

Taking serious note of the incident, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reportedly ordered the transfer of the IAS official.

Marmat was serving as the Project Director of the body responsible for the development of Kuppam, the Assembly constituency represented by Chandrababu Naidu in Chittoor district.