Kerala’s Home Minister, Ramesh Chennithala, emphasized that no officer, regardless of rank, would be allowed to bypass established procedures. He defended the suspension of senior IPS officer M.R. Ajithkumar, stating that the Kerala government acted based on the State Police Chief’s recommendation following a thorough Special Investigation Team (SIT) inquiry.
Chennithala clarified that the State Police Chief’s suspension recommendation was a standard procedure after reviewing the SIT’s investigation findings. He underscored the government’s commitment to upholding rules and ensuring accountability without compromise. The government recently released a detailed suspension order outlining the reasons behind initiating disciplinary action against the former Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order).
The suspension order, supported by the State Police Chief and SIT findings, alleges improper interference in the investigation into an alleged assault on Youth Congress workers during the Nava Kerala Sadas program in December 2023. It suggests that the intervention from the office of the then ADGP (Law and Order) influenced the investigation’s direction, leading to a refer report that shielded the accused from prosecution.
The government’s decision was based on testimonies from three former Investigating Officers who claimed they faced pressure during the probe. It also mentioned the alleged involvement of officers linked to the former ADGP’s office in influencing the investigation. While Ajithkumar refuted the allegations in his initial response and requested access to more records for a detailed reply, the State Police Chief deemed the explanation unsatisfactory, prompting disciplinary action recommendation.
The government acknowledged that supervisory involvement in investigations is permissible but stressed the need for adherence to legal protocols. It concluded that the alleged interference compromised the investigation’s fairness and justice. With the suspension order now public, attention is likely to focus on Ajithkumar’s next steps, with indications suggesting he may pursue judicial recourse as permitted under service regulations, potentially unfolding a new chapter in Kerala’s notable policing controversy.
