The Telangana government has transferred Smita Sabharwal, a senior IAS officer, days after she was served a notice by the police in connection with the resharing of an AI-generated image depicting a 400-acre land parcel adjacent to the University of Hyderabad (UoH). Sabharwal, who was serving as the Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs, Tourism and Culture, has now been appointed as Member Secretary, State Finance Commission.
The transfer comes amid an ongoing probe by the Hyderabad police into the circulation of digitally altered images that suggested potential land misuse and sparked political and public debate. Though Sabharwal has been called only as a witness, the timing of the transfer has raised eyebrows in administrative and political circles.
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The Telangana government announced the move on Sunday night as part of a larger reshuffle of senior IAS officers, impacting key positions in governance, municipal administration, IT, and public health.
Major Bureaucratic Reshuffle: Shashank Goel, Jayesh Ranjan Get New Roles
In the same reshuffle, Shashank Goel, currently serving as Director General of Dr. MCR HRD Institute, has been appointed as the Vice Chairman, Centre for Good Governance, a key policy advisory body in the state.
Jayesh Ranjan, the Special Chief Secretary for IT and Sports, has been posted as the CEO of the Industry and Investment Cell in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). Ranjan’s appointment is seen as a move to bolster the state’s push for industrial investments and economic partnerships.
Other notable changes include the transfer of Ilambarithi K, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner, who will now serve as the Secretary for the Metropolitan Area and Urban Development Department, specifically overseeing the HMDA (Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority) limits.
GHMC, Health Departments See Key Shifts; Administrative Focus Realigned
In a strategic realignment aimed at strengthening urban governance and public health delivery, RV Karnan, the current Director of Health and Family Welfare, has been posted as the new GHMC Commissioner, replacing Ilambarithi K.
The reshuffle reflects the Telangana government’s attempt to restructure core departments and improve administrative effectiveness, particularly in light of recent controversies and upcoming development goals. Sources indicate that more changes could follow as the government prepares to streamline urban management and address key infrastructure and governance concerns.
While Smita Sabharwal’s new role as Member Secretary of the State Finance Commission is constitutionally significant, it marks a shift away from the limelight she held in cultural and youth affairs, especially amid the ongoing AI-image controversy that brought her back into public focus.
The government has not officially commented on whether her transfer is directly related to the police notice, but officials confirmed that she continues to cooperate with the investigation, which is focused on tracking the origin and intent behind the spread of digitally manipulated imagery.