Kochi: Senior IPS officer and ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar, seen as a close aide of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, on Monday approached the High Court challenging a Vigilance court’s rejection of a clean chit given to him in a disproportionate assets case.
The petition, filed through senior advocate Ram Kumar, is likely to be heard on Tuesday. Earlier this month, the Vigilance court had refused to accept the exoneration report, observing possible political interference and misuse of power.
The order has triggered political uproar, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) demanding Vijayan’s resignation. Kumar, considered one of the chief minister’s most trusted officers, has long faced allegations of corruption and misconduct.
Adding to the controversy, advocate N. Nagaraj, the original complainant, has announced plans to approach the court again, this time against Vigilance officials who filed the clean chit.
Meanwhile, the state government is facing criticism for what the opposition has described as “extraordinary protection” being extended to the ADGP. Reports submitted by the former state police chief recommending disciplinary action against Kumar in two separate cases were recently returned by the government, which has now sought fresh opinions from the newly appointed police chief.
One case concerns the Thrissur Pooram unrest, where an inquiry found Kumar failed to respond to repeated calls from Revenue Minister K. Rajan despite being present in the city. The probe led by then DGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, and endorsed by the Home Secretary, termed it a serious dereliction of duty.
The other case involves allegations that Kumar gave a false statement implicating Intelligence ADGP P. Vijayan in a gold smuggling case. The DGP had even sought clearance for legal action. Senior police officers have described the government’s decision to return both reports for reconsideration as highly unusual.