‘Ravada has no role in Koothuparamba shooting conspiracy; govt does not have full discretionary powers to appoint DGP’ 

KANNUR: CPM Kannur district secretary K K Ragesh came forward reacting to the appointment of Ravada A Chandrasekhar, who was special director at the Central Intelligence Bureau headquarters, as police chief. Ravada had no role in the Koothuparamba shooting conspiracy and the state government does not have full discretionary powers to appoint the DGP, said Ragesh while addressing the press meet.

He also read out the Padmanabhan Commission report at the press meet. Ragesh clarified that Ravada reached Koothuparamba without knowing about the place. He is a 1991 batch Kerala cadre IPS officer. Ravada is the second in the three-member list given by the UPSC for the appointment.

The appointment order was sent to the union home ministry by the chief secretary yesterday. Ravada was released from the central service last evening. He took charge as the state police chief at the police headquarters at 7 am today.

Ravada was arraigned in the Koothuparamba firing case in which five DYFI workers were killed in 1994. He was acquitted by the high court in 2012. Ravada ordered the firing while he was Thalassery ASP. He was then suspended. He returned to service after a judicial inquiry.

Ravada’s service is still July 2026. However, since the Supreme Court has ordered that the police chief should have a two-year term, his term will be extended by one year. Since Shaik Darvesh Sahib retired from his post last evening, ADGP H Venkatesh was given temporary charge until Ravada takes charge.