Thiruvananthapuram: The vigilance court has rejected a clean chit given to senior IPS officer M R Ajith Kumar in an alleged wealth assessment complaint, stating that “the political executive does not have a role in the enquiry initiated against an officer.”
Special Judge (Vigilance) and enquiry commissioner A Manoj observed on Thursday that the documents submitted before the court established a prima facie case, warranting further proceedings. The court decided to examine the complainant, advocate P Nagaraj, and others before taking cognisance of the anti-corruption charge.
The complainant had approached the vigilance court seeking registration of a case against the ADGP under the Prevention of Corruption Act, after the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) allegedly failed to act on his petition. Known as a close aide of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ADGP Kumar is currently serving as excise commissioner.
While defending the clean chit, the vigilance bureau told the court that the probe had been completed and that the home department had accepted a report from the vigilance director, which was “approved by the chief minister.” Referring to this, the court questioned the involvement of constitutional dignitaries in enquiries against high-ranking police officers, adding, “The political executive does not have a role in the enquiry initiated against an officer.”
The court noted indications of “invisible penetration” into the inquiry, resulting in a report favourable to the officer holding a senior position in the police department. It termed the enquiry report “subservient” and suggested that the vigilance department and the authorities controlling it were aware of the Lalithkumari case principle, which mandates police to register FIRs upon information of cognizable offences.
The court further stated that there appeared to be attempts to circumvent statutory provisions, the Vigilance Manual, and Supreme Court judgments in the probe against ADGP Kumar. It noted that the facts in the enquiry report were largely based on statements provided by the suspected officer himself.
Last year, the government had removed Kumar as ADGP (Law and Order) due to lapses in handling the Thrissur Pooram Festival in 2024 ahead of the Lok Sabha election. Both the Congress and Left Democratic Front ally, the Communist Party of India, alleged that Kumar’s meeting with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Dattatreya Hosabale was part of a conspiracy that led to the “deliberate botching” of the festival.