State vigilance chief TK Vinod Kumar takes voluntary retirement; Yogesh Gupta to become new chief

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: DGP-ranked state vigilance chief TK Vinod Kumar has taken voluntary retirement. This happened after the centre rejected his request to take a leave of absence for two years to work as a teacher at an American university.
He had service till August 2025. Central government was not in favour of him taking leave for private work abroad just before retirement. The central position was that voluntary retirement (VRS) could be obtained if necessary. With the retirement of Vinod Kumar, Yogesh Gupta (1993 IPS batch), the senior of the current ADGPs, may get the post of DGP. He is the MD of Beverages Corporation.

Vinod Kumar is a native of Kannur. He has a PhD in Criminology. He is a 1992 batch IPS officer. Earlier also he was a teacher in various universities including in America. Vinod Kumar has also received anti-terrorist training from the United States.

Vinod Kumar was the Intelligence chief during the previous government. He joined Vigilance last August after being promoted as DGP. Although he was on the final panel of candidates to become the police chief, he was not considered. It is reported that Vinod Kumar had informed the Chief Minister that he would remain in the state if he was made the Chief of Police, but this was rejected.

The service of the current DGP, Sheikh Darvesh Sahib, was extended by one year recently. Vinodkumar took voluntary retirement due to this.