Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government on Saturday announced a reshuffling of the State's Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers.
Sriram Venkitaraman, who was the Joint Secretary of the Health department, will be the new Alappuzha Collector. He replaces his wife Renu Raj, who has been transferred to Ernakulam.
Sriram was the first accused in the controversial drunken driving accident that caused the death of journalist K M Basheer on August 3, 2019. Basheer was run over by a car allegedly driven by Sriram at high speed in an inebriated state, near Museum Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The accident and the botched probe that followed had resulted in a huge controversy. He was placed under suspension by the State government then.
However, Sriram was reinstated into service by the government in March 2020 and made the Joint Secretary in the Department of Health and Social Justice, much to the chagrin of the public. He was granted bail in the case by the First Class Magistrate Court in October 2020.
Sriram and Renu tied the knot on April 28 this year.
Geromic George will be the new Thiruvananthapuram Collector.
Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) Managing Director (MD) Rajamanikyam has been made Rural Development Commissioner.
Jafar Malik, who was Ernakulam Collector, will now be the Director of the Department of Information and Public Relations in the state. He will also head the Geology department.
Thiruvananthapuram Collector Navjot Khosa will replace Sriram as Joint Secretary of Health. She has also been named MD of the Medical Services Corporation.
Harikishore S will be the new MD of KSIDC.
