In a big reshuffle in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath led state government has removed Ritu Maheshwari, an IAS officer of 2003 batch, from the post of CEO of Noida Authority.
Divisional Commissioner of Kanpur, Mr. Lokesh M, who is also a 2003 batch IAS officer, will be the new CEO of Noida Authority. He was transferred to Kanpur as Commissioner on 5 June this year. Earlier, he was serving as Secretary Agriculture in Uttar Pradesh government.
Ms. Ritu Maheshwari has now been made the Divisional Commissioner of Agra. Her name was linked to many controversies for some time. She originally belongs to Punjab and became the CEO of the Noida Authority in 2019.
She has worked in Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) district in many capacities.
She has also served as the CEO of Greater Noida Authority and Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority. She also became the CEO of the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority in 2022.
She got the additional charge of the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar for a short span of time, when the current DM Suhas LY, an IAS officer of 2007 batch, went to Spain to play a badminton tournament. In his absence, Ms. Maheshwari was in charge, until he returns. Ms. Maheshwari was also the Managing Director of Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC).
The reason for her removal is said to be negligence in FD of Rs. 200 crore and allotment of plots to some disputed contractors.
She has held key administrative posts in Amroha, Ghazipur, Pilibhit, Shahjahanpur and Ghaziabad in the past, after her stint as the Managing Director of Kanpur Electric Supply Company Limited.
Ms. Maheshwari has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Punjab Engineering College. She is married to fellow IAS officer Mayur Maheshwari, who is currently serving as the CEO of Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA). Mr. Mayur Maheshwari has previously served in a senior role in the Prime Minister’s Office, too.
Meanwhile, 2000 batch IAS officer Amit Gupta has been made the new Commissioner of Kanpur.