Praveen Aditya, former APMB CEO, replaced K Dinesh Kumar as Andhra Pradesh FiberNet's Managing Director following GV Reddy's resignation due to lack of party support in his reform efforts for the company
Published Feb 26, 2025 | 5:52 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 26, 2025 | 5:52 PM
Praveen Aditya appointed new managing director of Andhra Pradesh FiberNet (https://apmaritime.in/#/)
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu appointed Praveen Aditya as the new Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh FiberNet, following the resignation of chairman GV Reddy and the transfer of K Dinesh Kumar. Aditya, an IAS officer, previously served as CEO of the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board. Reddy resigned due to lack of party support
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has appointed Praveen Aditya as the new Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh FiberNet.
The decision follows the resignation of Andhra Pradesh FiberNet’s chairman, GV Reddy and the transfer K Dinesh Kumar, who is Praveen Aditya’s predecessor.
Praveen Aditya, an IAS officer who previously served as the CEO of the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB), has now taken over as Managing Director.
GV Reddy, who also served as the national spokesperson for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), reportedly stepped down due to a lack of support from the party in his efforts to reform Andhra Pradesh FiberNet.
In a letter dated 24 February, Reddy informed the chief minister of his decision to quit both his roles at Andhra Pradesh FiberNet and the party. He expressed his intention to pursue a career as an advocate. He clarified that he had no plans to join any other political party.
The departures of GV Reddy and Dinesh Kumar mark the end of a prolonged conflict between the two, which began when Reddy assumed the role of Andhra Pradesh FiberNet chairman on 15 November, 2024.
Since his appointment, Reddy had struggled to maintain a working relationship with Dinesh Kumar, frequently citing non-cooperation and deliberate negligence.
Reddy accused Kumar of stalling the company’s progress, particularly by failing to terminate 400 “irregular” employees hired during the previous YSRCP government, despite his clear directives to do so.
Reddy also revealed that Andhra Pradesh FiberNet faced a ₹377 crore tax demand from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) department due to delayed submission of returns. He claimed that the tax notice was concealed from him and that he learned of it through external sources.
Reddy deplored that under the current administration, Andhra Pradesh FiberNet had failed to provide new connections or generate additional revenue. He accused Dinesh Kumar of colluding with the former YSRCP government to undermine the institution’s interests.
As part of cleansing the institution, Reddy removed three senior officials – Chief Technology Officer Pappu Bharadwaja, Business and Operations Head Gandhamshetty Suresh, and Assistant Procurement Manager Shashank Haider Khan – citing “mismanagement” and “financial lapses.”
Reddy further alleged that these officials refused to cooperate, even denying him access to the company’s financial records. He criticised their actions as not merely negligent or corrupt but as deliberate efforts to sabotage the government’s policy of providing internet connectivity to households. He called it “treason.”
Following Reddy’s public allegations against Dinesh Kumar and other officials, Chief Minister Naidu expressed his displeasure and urged both of them to resolve their differences. Naidu reportedly did not support Reddy’s decision to air grievances in the media without first bringing them to the notice of the minister concerned, the Chief Secretary, or himself.
GV Reddy, who served as the TDP’s national spokesperson before his appointment as Andhra Pradesh FiberNet chairman, announced his resignation from the party, reiterating his desire to continue his legal career and disinterest in joining any other political group. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naidu sought an explanation from Dinesh Kumar and ultimately transferred him out to restore order at Andhra Pradesh FiberNet.
In the Telugu Desam Party, the response to Reddy’s exit has been mixed. Some party workers believe Reddy’s efforts to reform Andhra Pradesh FiberNet were justified and that he should not have been sidelined.
Others argue that Reddy lacked the political maturity in handling conflicts with IAS officers, who form the backbone of the administration, and ultimately became a victim of his own approach. There is also criticism over the manner in which Reddy, a loyal party member during challenging times, was compelled to leave for attempting to cleans the debris-ridden stables.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
