The Chandrababu Naidu government announced that Andhra Pradesh would also form a special investigation team in response to Telangana's probe into the data scam revolving around IT Grids India Private Limited, which developed the Seva Mitra app for TDP. A jittery TDP government does not seem to know how to move forward in the case and has appointed Special Investigative Teams (SITs) for this purpose, one of which was announced on Thursday. On Friday, the Chandrababu regime went ahead and announced the constitution of the SIT whose focus is said to be the 'data theft of TDP members'. The case was registered in Tulluru of the capital region. The SIT is headed by Transport Commissioner, N. Balasubramaniam.

The second SIT intends to investigate the alleged misuse of Form-7 and was to be headed by legal IG Venkateswara Rao, according to some sources. After it came in for widespread criticism on how it could investigate the misuse of Form-7, the Chandrababu dispensation swung into damage control and reportedly reconstituted the second SIT under Additional Director-General of Fire Services K. Satyanarayana on Friday.

Both the SIT teams are reported to have met Andhra Pradesh DGP, RP Thakur separately. Incidentally, the CEC is said to be considering replacing Thakur as DGP once election schedule is announced and the model code comes into effect. The SIT teams are said to be probing the cases separately and held discussions on details with the DGP.

Analysts attribute the setting up of the 2 SIT teams by Chandrababu as a sign of panic and bluster by the TDP government. It is more a case of a thief probing his own theft, they say.

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