Hyderabad, 30 April (H.S.): Senior Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao and outgoing Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy have been appointed as special advisors to the Telangana government, according to official orders issued on Wednesday.

Rao, a former Rajya Sabha MP, has been appointed as Advisor on Backward Classes Welfare and Development. The position carries a rank equivalent to that of a Minister of State. As per Government Order (GO) 560 issued by Chief Secretary A. Rama Krishna Rao, he will receive a monthly remuneration of Rs 1 lakh.

A veteran leader with a political career spanning over five decades, Rao served as a Rajya Sabha member from 2004 to 2016. He was also elected as an MLA in undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2009.

Meanwhile, Shivadhar Reddy, who is set to retire as DGP on April 30, has been appointed as the State Security Advisor for a period of three years from the date of assuming charge.

According to GO 559, the post carries a rank equivalent to that of the Chief Secretary. He will advise the government on matters related to law and order, policing, internal security, crime control, narcotics regulation, and road safety. He will receive a fixed monthly remuneration of Rs 2.25 lakh along with office accommodation.

Incoming DGP C. V. Anand, speaking at the farewell parade held at the Telangana Police Academy, paid tribute to Shivadhar Reddy’s service and contributions to the force.

Anand highlighted the decline of Maoist activity in the region over the years, crediting specialised units such as Greyhounds and the Special Task Force for their role in tackling the insurgency. He also stressed the need for vigilance against emerging challenges such as cybercrime and drug-related offences.

Reaffirming his commitment, Anand said the Telangana Police would continue to focus on professional, people-centric policing while strengthening public safety and internal capabilities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar