Smita Sabharwal Among 20 IAS Officers Transferred in Telangana After AI Image Row

Telangana Reshuffles 20 IAS Officers; Smita Sabharwal Moved Amid AI Image Controversy

Hyderabad:
In a major administrative reshuffle, the Telangana government on Sunday transferred 20 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, including senior bureaucrat Smita Sabharwal, who recently faced police scrutiny over an AI-generated image linked to a land controversy in Hyderabad.

Ms. Sabharwal, a 2001-batch officer, had reshared an AI-generated Ghibli-style image on social media, expressing concern over tree cutting on a 400-acre plot near Hyderabad Central University. She was subsequently summoned by Cyberabad police, sparking a debate on freedom of expression and selective targeting. Questioning the move, Sabharwal pointed out that thousands had reshared the same post but were not penalized.

Previously serving as Special Chief Secretary, Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture (YAT&C) and Director of Archaeology, Sabharwal has now been moved back to her earlier role as Member Secretary, Telangana Finance Commission.

Other key transfers include:

• Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary for ITE&C and Sports, now appointed as Special Chief Secretary & CEO, Industry & Investment Cell in the Chief Minister’s Office, with additional charge of YAT&C and Archaeology.
• Sanjay Kumar, former Special Chief Secretary, Labour, is now in charge of Industries & Commerce and ITE&C departments.
• Dr. Shashank Goel takes over as Vice Chairman of the Centre for Good Governance, with added charge as DG of EPTRI.
• M. Dana Kishore moves to Principal Secretary, Labour and Employment, while retaining charge as Principal Secretary to the Governor.
• Ilambarithi K., former GHMC Commissioner, is now Secretary, Metropolitan Area & Urban Development.
• RV Karnan has been appointed as the new Commissioner of GHMC.
• TK Sreedevi has been posted as Secretary, Municipal Administration (outside HMDA limits), while retaining her charge over municipal corporations beyond the ORR.
• EV Narsimha Reddy becomes Additional CEO, Industry & Investment Cell and SPEED, with additional charge as MD, Musi River Development Corporation.

The reshuffle reflects the Congress government’s ongoing administrative realignments after assuming power and comes amid increasing scrutiny of bureaucratic roles in public discourse.