Smita Sabharwal, a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was among the 20 officers transferred by the Telangana government on Sunday. Sabharwal had recently been summoned by the police for reposting an AI-generated Ghibli image on social media about cutting trees on a 400-acre plot of land near Hyderabad Central University. A week ago, Sabharwal appeared before Cyberabad police and questioned the "selective targeting" in the case. The 2001-batch IAS officer pointed out that no action was taken against the 2,000 people who had also reshared the same post. Currently serving as the Special Chief Secretary for Youth Advancement, Tourism & Culture (YAT&C) and Director of Archaeology, Sabharwal has now been transferred back to her previous role as Member Secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission, a position she held before her transfer to YAT&C in November 2024.

Under the previous BRS government, she held significant power as the secretary to the Chief Minister. However, after Congress took power, she was moved out of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and appointed Member Secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission.

Jayesh Ranjan, who was serving as the Special Chief Secretary for the ITE&C and Sports Department, has now been transferred to the CMO as the Special Chief Secretary & CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell, as well as the head of the Smart Proactive Efficient and Effective Delivery (SPEED) initiative.

The 1992-batch IAS officer has also been given additional responsibilities as the Special Chief Secretary of the YAT&C Department and Director of Archaeology. Sanjay Kumar, previously the Special Chief Secretary for the Labour, Employment, Training & Factories Department, has been reassigned as the Special Chief Secretary for the Industries & Commerce Department and the ITE&C and Sports Department.

Dr. Shashank Goel, the Director General of the Dr MCR HRD Institute, has been transferred and appointed Vice Chairman of the Centre for Good Governance. He will also take over the full additional charge of the Director General position at EPTRI, relieving Ahmad Nadeem from that responsibility.

M. Dana Kishore, who was previously the Principal Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Department, has been appointed as the Principal Secretary of the Labour, Employment, Training & Factories Department. Additionally, he will hold full additional charge of the roles of Commissioner for Labour, Director of Insurance Medical Services, and Director of Employment & Training. Dana Kishore will also continue to hold the full additional charge of Principal Secretary to the Governor.

Ilambarithi K., who previously served as the Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), has been appointed Secretary of the Metropolitan Area & Urban Development Department, overseeing the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) limits. RV Karnan, the Director of Health and Family Welfare, will replace him as the new Commissioner of GHMC.

TK Sreedevi, who was the Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration, has been transferred to the position of Secretary in the Municipal Administration Department for areas outside the HMDA limits. She will continue to hold full additional charge as Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration for municipalities and corporations beyond the Outer Ring Road (ORR) area.

EV Narsimha Reddy, the Director of School Education, has been appointed as the Additional CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell and SPEED. He will also take on full additional charge as the managing director of the Musi River Development Corporation Ltd (MRDCL), relieving Dana Kishore from the position.