Kerala IPS officer’s meeting with RSS leaders raises concerns, probe unable to confirm purpose
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A high-level investigation into a controversial meeting between senior IPS officer M.R. Ajith Kumar and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders revealed that the meeting’s true purpose remains unclear.
The meeting, held behind closed doors without independent witnesses, has fueled political controversy following the BJP's first-ever win in Kerala's Thrissur Lok Sabha seat.
The probe, led by Kerala DGP Shaik Darvesh Saheb, was initiated after Kumar, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for Law and Order, was removed from his position. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan tabled the probe report in the Kerala Assembly, which highlighted the ambiguity surrounding the meetings that took place with RSS General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale in April 2023 and senior leader Ram Madhav in June 2023.
The investigation was prompted by allegations from the Congress party and CPI, an ally of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), suggesting that Kumar’s meetings with RSS leaders were part of a larger conspiracy. They accused him of deliberately mishandling the Thrissur Pooram festival, which allegedly influenced the BJP’s unprecedented victory in the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat.
While the probe indicated that Kumar attended an RSS meeting in Thrissur that was meant solely for RSS members, it noted that he was neither invited nor part of the event’s public activities. The investigation failed to determine whether the meetings were linked to personal favors, such as seeking the President’s Medal for distinguished service or inclusion in the UPSC Select List for Kerala DGP, as some allegations suggested.
The report cited insufficient evidence to confirm or deny these claims.
Kumar defended himself, stating that his meetings with the RSS leaders were merely “courtesy calls” without any specific purpose. He further explained that he routinely met prominent leaders visiting Kerala. However, the report raised questions about why Kumar chose to meet Hosabale in Thrissur after leaving his official vehicle to travel in a private car belonging to an RSS leader.
Despite Kumar’s explanation, the probe could not conclusively establish the reason for his meetings, as they were not related to his official duties or any ongoing investigations. Additionally, the report stated that the meetings were not part of any private or family functions to which Kumar was invited.
