CM yields to pressure, orders probe into ADGP’s secret meetings with RSS leaders

The order from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to probe the secret meetings held by Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M R Ajith Kumar with leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is believed to have been announced after mounting pressure from his party and other parties in the LDF front.

This comes after repeated allegations against ADGP Ajith Kumar for his involvement in creating commotion during the Thrissur Pooram on April 19, 2024, which is believed to have become a contributing cause to the winning of the BJP candidate from the Thrissur constituency, as alleged by the opposition parties and the CPI, who have demanded transparency in this case.

Directed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the probe, headed by Director General of Police (DGP) Sheikh Darvesh Saheb, is expected to focus on Kumar’s meetings with key RSS figures, including General Secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and former BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav. These meetings took place in May and June 2023, sparking controversy due to the sensitive political context in Kerala.

Kumar allegedly met RSS leaders within a ten-day span, first at a study camp in Thrissur, followed by a meeting with Ram Madhav at a national media event in Kovalam. The meetings were reportedly arranged through his childhood friend and RSS Sampark Pramukh Jayakumar.

The ADGP’s use of RSS-provided transport for both events has further fuelled criticism, with political observers calling for transparency. His actions have attracted the ire of leftist political leaders, with calls for his removal from office unless he clarifies the purpose behind these discussions.

The Thrissur Pooram, one of Kerala’s most significant cultural events, was marred by disruptions attributed to police overreach. The Thiruvambady Devaswom, one of the festival organisers, halted rituals in protest against the security restrictions, leading to a political storm.

As a result, Ajith Kumar was tasked with leading a probe into the Pooram crisis, the findings of which were submitted on September 21. However, the DGP’s critical recommendations attached to the report have now become central to the controversy.

In his recommendations, DGP Sheikh Darvesh Saheb identified four key lapses in Kumar’s handling of the Pooram incident: his failure to supervise arrangements, his absence from the festival venue during the crisis, his sudden changes to security protocols, and his delay in concluding the internal investigation into the disruption.

These criticisms suggest that Kumar's leadership contributed to the festival’s mismanagement, which in turn escalated tensions. The DGP’s report also calls for a further probe into potential conspiracies behind the festival disruption, casting further doubt on Kumar's role in the affair.

As the probe into the RSS meetings unfolds, the Chief Minister is expected to review the DGP’s recommendations and consider the next steps. The Kerala government is likely to seek legal advice from the Advocate General before proceeding, which may determine the severity of the action taken against the ADGP. If the DGP’s allegations are upheld, Kumar’s efforts to secure a clean slate could be thwarted, leaving his position in jeopardy.

In the meantime, the Congress and the CPI have criticised Kumar’s investigation into the Thrissur Pooram, particularly his dismissal of claims that external forces played a role in the disruption.

Both political parties have raised concerns over the ADGP’s approach to the investigation, further complicating the officer’s standing within the state’s administrative apparatus. With both the government and political opposition scrutinising his actions, Ajith Kumar faces mounting challenges.