Foul plays foiled; IPS officer P Vijayan promoted as Ad DGP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: IPS officer P Vijayan, who was entangled in suspension and investigation by the police top brass who were not amused about him seeking central help to catch the accused in the Elathur train fire case, has been granted the promotion to Ad DGP post by the government.

With this, the state's most popular police officer got three stars on his uniform. P Vijayan has been appointed as Director of the Police Academy with a pay scale of 1,82,200- 2,24,100. Kerala Kaumudi had brought out the foul play to stop Vijayan's promotion.

Vijayan was suspended for six months and a departmental inquiry was announced to prevent him from being promoted in January. The basis of the action was the report of the top police officers that Vijayan contacting the officials who brought the Elathur train arson case accused Shah Rukh Saifi from Maharashtra was a security lapse. Suspension without even seeking an explanation. Despite the Chief Secretary twice recommending Vijayan's reinstation into service, the DGP opposed it. The Chief Minister accepted the third recommendation and cancelled the suspension on November 13.

It was found that Vijayan was not wrong in seeking central assistance. Vijayan sought the help of Kerala cadre IG Anoop Kuruvila John of the Union Cabinet Secretariat when it was confirmed that the accused had left Kerala. That is how the IB, Maharashtra-Karnataka anti-terrorist squads, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi Police and RPF were coordinated.

Although it was the Maharashtra ATS that released the photo and video of the accused, Vijayan was blamed for that too. ADGP, IG, SP and DYSP had also called the DYSP who brought the accused to Kerala, but Vijayan was the only one who got blamed. It was alleged that the travel route of the accused would have led to an attack by terrorists.

Eligible to become police chief

• Vijayan, who has service till 2028, is also eligible to become police chief. Vijayan, who studied with determination and obtained IPS after failing his 10th class, is a hero of the young generation.
• Received the CNN-IBN award for the most popular officer in the country. He was invited to participate in the 100th edition of Mann Ki Baat with the Prime Minister.