CI Abhilash David received dismissal notice in 2023; order later revoked and action reduced

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It has come to light that CI Abhilash David, who is currently facing allegations of assaulting MP Shafi Parambil, had earlier received a dismissal notice in January 2023 from then Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner CH Nagaraju. The notice had given him 15 days to respond, warning that further action would be taken if his reply was unsatisfactory or not submitted. However, follow-up action was delayed, and the dismissal notice was later withdrawn.

The dismissal notice was issued for serious lapses in investigating a sexual harassment case while he was serving as the Inspector at the Sreekaryam police station. Abhilash later approached the Administrative Tribunal, which stayed the action. The Commissioner’s move had followed the DGP’s suspension order, after Abhilash was found to have links with goons and the real estate mafia, tarnishing the image of the police force.

In his appeal to the tribunal, Abhilash argued that the Inspector General (IG) had no authority to dismiss him. He also appealed to the government and the DGP. Eventually, the disciplinary action was reduced to withholding one salary increment, and the dismissal order was cancelled. The cancellation reportedly came with the condition that he should not be posted within the Thiruvananthapuram district. Abhilash was later appointed to the control room under Kozhikode Rural and soon returned to law-and-order duties.

Serious misconduct

• While serving as an Inspector in Sreekaryam, Abhilash mishandled a sexual harassment case by failing to take it seriously. He neither arranged a medical examination for the survivor nor recorded her statement. Instead, claiming the case was outside his jurisdiction, he transferred it to the Parippally station.
• The then Kollam District Police Chief reported this to higher officials. The Commissioner assigned the DCRB DySP to investigate the issue, and the probe found serious misconduct, negligence, and lack of diligence. Considering these findings and Abhilash’s previous disciplinary record, the Commissioner decided to issue the dismissal notice.