Kerala suspends ex-ADGP M R Ajith Kumar over 2023 assault probe interference

The Kerala government on Friday (July 24) suspended the state’s former Additional Director General of Police (ADGP-law and order) M R Ajith Kumar, pending disciplinary action, over allegations he interfered with the probe into the 2023 assault on Youth Congress workers during the government's Nava Kerala Sadas event in Alappuzha.

Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha issued the order under Rule 3(1) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, based on findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case registered at Alappuzha South Police Station.

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The case relates to the alleged assault on Youth Congress workers, including current Alappuzha MLA AD Thomas, during the Nava Kerala Sadas programme on December 15, 2023, by members of the then chief minister’s security and escort team.

According to the order, progress reports submitted by the SIT, headed by Crime Branch SP Shoukathali, revealed that earlier investigating officers were subjected to severe pressure from the office of Ajith Kumar.

'Ajith Kumar's office influenced probe'

“The office of the then ADGP (Law and Order), M R Ajith Kumar IPS, had influenced the course of investigation and shaped it in a way that the case finally ended in a Refer Report, and the earlier Investigating Officers alleged that they were pressurised to shape the case towards the Refer Report,” the suspension order said.

The order referred to statements recorded by the SIT from former investigating officers, including Inspector K P Tomson, DySP Arun K S and DySP Sunilraj.

The order states that Inspector Tomson informed the SIT that Ajith Kumar had personally reviewed the case diary at a meeting, voiced displeasure with how the probe was proceeding, and raised questions about findings indicating the involvement of the chief minister's security and escort personnel.

The order noted that DySP Sunilraj cited messages relayed via the SP stating the CM PSO case would be referred soon and that the investigation appeared complete, suggesting attempts to influence its outcome. It added that the SIT found Grade SI Gireesh and SI Sreekanth, from Ajith Kumar's office, actively pushed for a Refer Report to shield the accused.

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After a DGP memorandum, Ajith Kumar submitted an interim explanation on July 21, denying the charges, claiming the SIT overstepped its mandate. The state police Chief deemed this unsatisfactory and recommended action. The government rejected Ajith Kumar’s defence, noting that while Section 36 of the Code of Criminal Procedure permits supervisory intervention, it must be lawful and justice oriented.

“Under Section 36 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, a supervisory officer may intervene in an investigation by exercising the powers of the Station House Officer. Such intervention should be lawful and to ensure justice. Here, the intervention by Ajith Kumar IPS was not in accordance with law and, more importantly, it led to injustice to the victims and protection for the accused from legal action,” the order said.

Following reports of Ajith Kumar's suspension, MLA Thomas and Youth Congress workers welcomed the decision.

This is not the first time Ajithkumar has been courting controversy.

Allegations were raised against him over the handling of an incident related to the disruption of Thrissur Pooram in 2024.

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Meanwhile, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said that the state’s United Democratic Alliance government’s policy was to take strict action against any public servant found guilty of abusing power or indulging in illegal activities.

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Kerala Health Minister K Muraleedharan said Ajithkumar was not “fit” to continue in service and alleged that the officer had played a major role in several controversial incidents during the previous Left Democratic Front government’s tenure that ended in May.

(With agency inputs)