Telangana digital platform dispute: Police arrest senior employee, seek managing director

Telangana police arrested a senior employee of a private firm hired in 2017 to build a state digital platform and are seeking its managing director. Officials allege the firm misused digital assets, delayed the handover after its tenure ended on 31 May 2025, and attempted to claim government data using false ownership documents.

Telangana Police arrested a senior employee of a private firm hired to build a state digital platform. Police were also trying to trace and arrest the firm’s MD. The case linked to claims of misusing digital assets. Officials also alleged attempts to delay the handover to a new vendor.

The Commissioner, Electronic Services Delivery ESD in Telangana’s IT and Communications department said the firm got the work order in 2017. The job included developing a digital platform and related services. The commissioner said the contract set clear ownership terms for code and data after the term ended.

Telangana digital platform handover dispute and contract timeline

Under the agreement, the state was set to own the source code and data. It would also hold full rights to all digital assets. The department said the same conditions stayed in place during extensions. The agreement was extended three times. The firm’s tenure ended on May 31, 2025.

After the contract period, the government started a tender to pick a new firm. The department said the process was transparent. Another company was selected through that tender. The commissioner said the earlier firm then stopped cooperating with the government. Officials linked this change to the ongoing transition work.

Telangana digital platform probe over data ownership and tender rules

The release said the firm allegedly tried to treat government data as its own. Officials said it used false ownership documents to support this claim. The handover process had already started by then. Still, the department said the firm violated government orders during the transition. The dispute centred on control of data and digital assets.

Officials said the firm agreed to hand over data to the new vendor. This transfer was required under the tender rules. The department said the firm did not complete the promised handover. The government then registered a police case. The stated aim was to protect public assets and start legal action.

Telangana digital platform investigation and arrests

Police said the investigation led to an arrest inside the firm. The chief of projects was taken into custody, the release said. Efforts were underway to apprehend the MD and a project manager. The department said the case related to alleged misuse of digital assets and blocking the handover process.

With inputs from PTI