Kerala prolongs ADGP Ajithkumar's suspension by four months

The Kerala government has prolonged the suspension of Additional Director General of Police M. R. Ajithkumar by another 120 days. The extension follows a review by a Suspension Review Committee that met on September 15 and found no reason to lift the disciplinary action. Ajithkumar, an IPS officer of the 1995 batch, was initially put on leave on July 24 after a Special Investigation Team linked him to alleged police excesses during the 2023 Nava Kerala Sadas outreach in Alappuzha. The SIT, set up after the UDF came to power, said the officer intervened to protect police who were acting as security for then chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and were accused of assaulting Youth Congress workers on December 15, 2023. The government accepted the committee’s recommendation and formalised the 120‑day extension while disciplinary proceedings continue. The case stems from a complaint lodged at Alappuzha South police station regarding the alleged violence against Youth Congress volunteers during the programme. Officials said the review committee’s decision reflects the evidence that Ajithkumar may have shielded the implicated officers, prompting the continued suspension.

Context

Nava Kerala Sadas is a statewide outreach drive that often involves large police deployments for crowd control. Allegations of misconduct during such events have led to heightened public attention on police accountability. Extending a senior officer’s suspension while investigations proceed is a routine measure to ensure impartiality. The Youth Congress is the youth wing of the Indian National Congress party.