Amid criticism of the CPI-M-led Kerala government over the alleged Saffronisation of the police department, with ADGP M R Ajith Kumar’s purported RSS connection, R Sreelekha, Kerala’s first female Director General of Police (DGP) and retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, officially joined the BJP on Wednesday, October 9.
The former top officer received her membership from BJP state president K Surendran at her residence in Thiruvananthapuram. The event was attended by prominent party leaders, including state vice president C Sivankutty and Thiruvananthapuram district president VV Rajesh.
Sreelekha’s decision to join the BJP was reportedly influenced by her admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Following a distinguished 33-year career in the police force, she expressed that her new political affiliation would allow her to continue serving the public in a different capacity.
Sreelekha’s career in the Kerala Police is marked by various key appointments, including her role as Superintendent of Police in Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, and Thrissur, as well as her service in the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau. She also held significant positions such as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in the Crime Branch, Inspector General of Police (IG), Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), and Director General of Police (DGP). Before her retirement in 2020, she was also the State Transport Commissioner.
Sreelekha’s career has not been without controversy. She has faced allegations of corruption, although she was later cleared of these charges. Her candid claims in her YouTube series, Sasneham Sreelekha, have also sparked debates, particularly when she discussed the sexual harassment faced by female police officers, a topic that caused discomfort within the police force.
In 2022, she stirred further controversy when she suggested that actor Dileep, accused in a high-profile 2017 assault case, was innocent, questioning the conduct of the police during the investigation. Her remarks in the case prompted the prosecution to seek further investigation into her claims.