Telangana government transfers IAS officer Smita Sabharwal amid controversy over AI-generated image | cliQ Latest

In a recent shake-up, the Telangana government transferred senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Smita Sabharwal, following her involvement in a social media row over an AI-generated image. The 1992-batch officer had sparked controversy after reposting an AI-created Ghibli image related to tree cutting on a 400-acre land near Hyderabad Central University. This led to her questioning the selective targeting of individuals, as around 2,000 others had shared the same post. Smita Sabharwal was subsequently summoned by the Cyberabad police.

As part of a broader transfer of 20 officers, Smita Sabharwal was moved from her position as Special Chief Secretary for Youth Advancement, Tourism, and Culture (YAT&C) and Director of Archaeology. She has now been reassigned as the Member Secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission, a post she had previously held before her move to YAT&C in November 2024.

Smita Sabharwal, a 2001-batch IAS officer, has had a distinguished career, having served as the secretary to the Chief Minister under the previous BRS government. After the Congress took power, she was transferred out of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and moved to the Telangana Finance Commission. Her transfer follows the controversy over the social media post and the subsequent police summons.

In the same reshuffle, several other senior officers also received new assignments. Jayesh Ranjan, who was the Special Chief Secretary for ITE&C and Sports, has been posted as the Special Chief Secretary and CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell in the CMO. Ranjan has also taken on the additional responsibility of Special Chief Secretary for YAT&C and Director of Archaeology.

Other notable transfers include Sanjay Kumar, who moves from Special Chief Secretary of Labour, Employment, Training & Factories to Special Chief Secretary of Industries & Commerce and ITE&C and Sports. Meanwhile, Dr. Shashank Goel has been reassigned as Vice Chairman of the Centre for Good Governance, and M. Dana Kishore has been posted as Principal Secretary of the Labour, Employment, Training & Factories Department.

With these high-profile changes, Telangana’s government continues its reorganization of key administrative posts while handling the fallout from recent controversies involving top officials.

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