Govt plays down CPI opposition; MR Ajith Kumar to be DGP soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cabinet meeting approved the recommendation of the inspection committee headed by the chief secretary, to give the rank of DGP to ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar as soon as a vacancy occurs. The cabinet approved the decision despite opposition from CPI ministers.

The CPI ministers pointed out in the cabinet meeting about Ajith facing a three-way investigation, thus making clear their dissent over Ajith rising to the DGP rank. However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took the position that the cabinet could not block the promotion file of the inspection committee after evaluating the criteria. This decision was approved by the cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, Ajith and Suresh Raj Purohit will be considered for the DGP post after the 1994 batch ADGP Manoj Abraham gets promoted as DGP. When Fire Force Chief K. Padmakumar retires in April, Manoj Abraham will get the rank of DGP. His tenure will last till June 2031. DGP-ranked Sanjeev Kumar Patjoshi is retiring in December, but hitherto no officer has received a promotion. Former BSF chief Nitin Agarwal, who was sent back by the Central government, is currently the Road Safety Commissioner.

Before Nitin's return, Vigilance Director Yogesh Gupta was given the rank of DGP. No one will be promoted to the rank of DGP in January due to the regularization of these posts. Police Chief Sheikh Darvesh Saheb's tenure will end in June. ADGP Ajithkumar was expected to get DGP rank, but Suresh Raj Purohit's return to the Kerala cadre in February after ending his deputation in SPG has changed things. Suresh is expected to get the DGP rank in July. Ajith will have to wait till Nitin Agarwal, who holds the rank of DGP, retires in 2026.