IAS officer Smita Sabharwal on long leave till January 2026 due to…? Her social media post sparks concern, what did she say?

IAS Smita was seen as an important officer during the BRS government, but reports say she was sidelined after the Miss World event in Hyderabad. She also faced controversy for sharing an AI-generated video about tree cutting in Kancha Gachibowli, which resulted in issuing her a notice.

Written by: Analiza Pathak Edited by: Analiza Pathak

Updated: August 30, 2025, 11:55 AM IST

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https://www.india.com/viral/ias-officer-smita-sabharwal-on-long-leave-till-january-2026-due-to-health-issues-vertebral-artery-dissection-her-social-media-post-sparks-concern-what-did-she-say-about-painful-recovery-8042716/ Copy

Meet Smita Sabharwal, Telangana cadre IAS officer, who is facing strong criticism for sharing…

Well-known IAS officer Smita Sabharwal has gone on a long leave until January 31, 2026. Her announcement on social media has led to many speculations. Some believe she took leave due to health reasons, while others say it might be because of her current posting or the legal challenges she has been facing related to the Kaleshwaram and Kancha Gachibowli land issues.

She currently serves as Secretary of the Telangana Finance Commission, and her responsibilities have been handed over to SERP Additional CEO Katyayani Devi.

What Smita Sabharwal shared online?

In her post on social media, Smita wrote, “Sometimes, even moments of peace in our lives feel heavy. The last few months have been like that. I am slowly recovering from painful experiences. It’s difficult, but I am healing – little by little, every day.” She ended her note with a heart emoji, hinting at her emotional struggles.

Sometimes the quietest seasons of our life, speak to us the loudest.

A personal update:
The past few months have been a slow, painful recovery from a vertebral artery dissection that shook my world!

It’s been tough – but I’m healing. Building resilience.
One day at a time. ❤️‍🩹 pic.twitter.com/NLwYtAf22p

— Smita Sabharwal (@SmitaSabharwal) August 28, 2025

Smita, who once held a prominent position in the Chief Minister’s Office during the BRS government, reportedly lost that influence after the Congress government came to power. Many believe the change in political environment, along with the pending cases, pushed her to step away from work temporarily.

Smita Sabharwal was once a key figure during KCR’s tenure

During the tenure of Telangana’s first Chief Minister, K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), Smita was considered a key part of the administration and was given important responsibilities. However, the situation has changed over time, with some people claiming that she is now being sidelined and even discriminated against.

Social media flooded with support after her online post 

Smita’s heartfelt post has created a stir on social media. Many people, including her admirers and colleagues, are expressing concern and sending messages of support. They are urging her to stay strong and recover from this challenging phase.