Guilty? Praveen Prakash Issues Public Apology

Retired IAS officer Praveen Prakash has issued a public apology, expressing regret for his actions during his tenure under the YSRCP government. In a video shared on social media, he apologised for the mistakes he made while in service.

He addressed IAS officer Jasti Krishna Kishor and former Intelligence chief AB Venkateswar Rao directly in his apology. Praveen admitted that his treatment of them was wrong and said he now realises his errors in judgment.

Reflecting on the past year, he said he faced severe trolling and began questioning his own actions. After working in Andhra Pradesh for three decades, he maintained that he never took money that wasn’t his and always acted with honesty.

Praveen recalled his years as Municipal Commissioner in Guntur and Vijayawada between 2000 and 2024, saying that his earlier work earned him praise but one wrong decision changed his image completely. He added that the incident made him apply for voluntary retirement.

He revealed that while serving as Principal Secretary in 2020, he received a file from the DGP’s office recommending action against AB Venkateswar Rao. He approved it but now believes it was a mistake. He expressed similar regret over his handling of Jasti Krishna Kishor’s case.

The apology video has stirred discussion across Andhra Pradesh, as both AB Venkateswar Rao and Jasti Krishna Kishor are widely regarded as sincere and efficient officers.