Andhra Pradesh transfers IAS officer after alleged Bengaluru pub brawl

The Andhra Pradesh government transferred IAS officer Vikas Marmat after Bengaluru police registered a case against him and three others over an alleged confrontation at a pub. The officer has been directed to report to the General Administration Department.

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.

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

The Chief Secretary has asked the Chittoor District Collector and District Magistrate to make the necessary in-charge arrangements 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 occurred around 1.30 am 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 on duty.

A case was registered against Marmat and the 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, threatened them and obstructed 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 a breach of peace), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging duty) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

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

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reportedly ordered the transfer of the IAS officer after taking serious note of the incident.

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