So Who Is This Chief Secretary And Why Was He So Important?

Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu state P Rama Mohana Rao on whose residences the Income Tax department conducted raids on Wednesday morning had a rather interesting career graph in the Tamil Nadu secretariat. Even more interesting are his allegedly close affinity with politicians including those from the Telugu Desam Party.

His career graph

Though Rama Mohan Rao did not spend much time on deputation to the Centre, apart from his brief stint as the vice-chairman of Gujarat Maritime Board in the intervening period of 2001-03, he is reckoned by many to be a key administrative officer not only in the Tamil Nadu state cadre but also among the central services.

A 1985 batch IAS officer, Rama Mohan Rao hails from Andhra Pradesh and began his administrative services as a sub-collector in 1987. Five years ago when Jayalalithaa was at the helm of Tamil Nadu politics he was picked by her as her administrative secretary.

Rama Mohan Rao, much to the dismay of everyone in the administrative services, was promoted to the rank of Chief Secretary.

Five years later when Jayalalithaa created history by beating the anti-incumbency factor and retaining power in Tamil Nadu, Rama Mohan Rao, much to the dismay of everyone in the administrative services, was promoted to the rank of Chief Secretary. It is no surprise then to see him prominently at his master’s side at her funeral.

His shady links

What is more surprising are the raids on his residence and over a dozen other premises linked to him on Wednesday morning, especially when Rama Mohan Rao had only a few months left for retirement. The searches were conducted after his alleged affinities with persons such as the former TTD board member Sekhar Reddy were established.

The searches, officials said, are related to the department’s probe in the biggest haul of cash and gold here post demonetisation, in which over Rs 142 crore unaccounted assets have been recovered so far.

The total seizure in the case is over Rs 170 crore in a single case related to action against sand mining operators in the state and few others including S Reddy, who was also on the panel of a religious shrine body.

Apart from Jayalalithaa, Rama Mohan Rao is known to have counseled Sasikala and present chief minister Panneer Selvam on personal and economic matters. His alleged links with certain TDP leaders is also being brought into the light.