Andhra Pradesh High Court Stays CAT Order, IPS Vishal Gunni Suspension Continues

• High Court stays CAT order in Vishal Gunni suspension case
• IPS Vishal Gunni suspension continues after court decision
• Government challenge against CAT ruling accepted by High Court

In a significant development, the Andhra Pradesh High Court has stayed the order issued by the Central Administrative Tribunal that had earlier set aside the suspension of senior IPS officer Vishal Gunni. With this interim decision, Gunni will continue to remain under suspension until further hearings.

The state government had approached the High Court challenging the CAT ruling that favored the officer. During the hearing, the government argued that the allegations against Gunni are serious in nature and require detailed examination. It was also pointed out that he had allegedly attempted to take action in another state even before a formal case was registered, raising concerns about procedural conduct.

A bench comprising Justice Manavendranath Roy and Justice Tuhin Kumar heard arguments from both sides. Representing the government, Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas emphasized that the tribunal’s intervention at this stage was premature. On the other side, senior counsel Avinash Desai defended Gunni, seeking relief based on the earlier tribunal order.

After reviewing the submissions, the High Court observed that the matter needs a thorough and extended hearing. The bench granted an interim stay on the CAT order and postponed the next hearing to August 29.

The case against Vishal Gunni dates back to 2024, when allegations surfaced involving harassment of a Mumbai based actress, Kadambari Jethwani. Following claims of misuse of authority, the government placed him under suspension. While the tribunal had earlier ruled in his favor, the High Court’s latest intervention has ensured that the suspension remains in effect for now.