After a weeklong hullabaloo triggered by the revelations of P V Anvar, a CPI(M)-backed independent legislator in the Kerala Assembly, against top officials of the Kerala police, including ADGP Ajith Kumar and S Sujith Das, the state government has suspended Das from service.
Sujith Das, a 2015-batch IPS officer from Kerala, faces accusations, including extortion, killing, and now rape, as a woman came out against Das and other officials who were posted in Ponnani, Malappuram district, accusing them of raping her and taking her to other officials for sexual exploitation.
Anvar had claimed that while serving as Superintendent of Police in Malappuram, Das was involved in a scheme connected to gold smuggling operations at Kozhikode International Airport. According to the allegations, smuggling cases were deliberately mishandled, with police seizing only part of the smuggled goods and allegedly keeping the rest.
Anvar began to level charges against Das, implicating him for cutting trees which were inside the residence of the Superintendent of Police. A phone call from Das to Anvar, who later leaked the call to the media, could be heard, with Das pleading with Anvar to spare him in the case, for which he would be faithful for the rest of the time.
The accusations escalated into a political controversy, particularly as Anvar also implicated ADGP Law and Order M R Ajith Kumar in the matter. In response, DIG Ajeetha Begum was tasked with investigating the claims against Das. Her report pointed to significant lapses in the officer's conduct, leading to his suspension.
The case has drawn widespread attention due to the involvement of senior police officials and the potential for further political fallout. Investigations into the matter are expected to continue, with further action likely to be taken based on the findings.