THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The promotion of IG P Vijayan as assistant DGP was blocked through a departmental investigation by the police top brass who did not like him seeking central help to nab the accused in the Elathur train arson case.
Vijayan was suspended for six months and a departmental inquiry was announced on the allegation that the arrest of the accused with the help of central agencies led to the loss of credit of the state police. The goal was to prevent the promotion that was due in January. The Chief Minister intervened, withdrew the suspension and reinstated Vijayan as the Training IG.
Vijayan's promotion documents were not brought before the screening committee chaired by the Chief Secretary. The committee comprising home and law secretaries, the DGP and the intelligence chief could not consider the promotion. Vijayan was not considered on the grounds that he was facing a departmental investigation. The basis of the action was ADGP MR Ajithkumar's report that Vijayan had contacted the officers who had brought the arson case accused Shahrukh Saifi from Maharashtra, causing a security breach. Vijayan got involved in the case on the instructions of DGP Anilkanth.
After it was confirmed that the accused had left Kerala, Vijayan sought the help of Kerala cadre IG Anoop Kuruvila John, Senior Executive Director at the Central Cabinet Secretariat. IB, Maharashtra-Karnataka anti-terrorist squads, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi Police and RPF were coordinated through this to nab the accused. IG Vijayan's suspension was imposed accusing him of neglecting the security of the accused without even seeking an explanation. The departmental inquiry announced afterwards is still dragging on. Those facing such investigations have been promoted in the past.
Reason for the rivalry, Vijayan's popularity