THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The cabinet meeting convened here Wednesday decided to elevate ADGP M R Ajith Kumar as DGP. Suresh Raj Purohit will also be promoted as DGP. The cabinet meeting approved the recommendation of the screening committee led by chief secretary Sarada Muraleedharan. Ajith Kumar is being elevated as DGP as the present police chief S Darvesh Sahib, will retire from service on July 1, 2025. M R Ajith Kumar is facing a vigilance investigation related to illegal acquisition of wealth.

Officers promoted as DGP (1995 batch)
1. S Suresh
2. M R Ajith Kumar

To the rank of ADGP (2000 batch)
1. Tarun Kumar

To the rank of IG (2007 batch)
1. Debesh Kumar Behra
2. Uma
3. Rajpalmeena
4. Jayanath J

To the rank of DIG (2011 batch)
1. Yathish Chandra
2. Hari Shankar
3. Karthik K
4. Pratheesh Kumar
5. T Narayan

Presently, the eligibility list for the rank of DGP is after Manoj Abraham of the 1994 batch.

Other cabinet decisions
The Invest Kerala Global Summit 2025 investors meet has been approved in principle to be held on February 21 and 22, 2025. The event will be held at the Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre in Kochi in collaboration with various departments and institutions. The high-power committee, chaired by the chief secretary, will be tasked with presenting investment proposals of various departments at the Invest Kerala Global Summit ahead of the summit and coordinating the steps to issue approvals for large-scale projects (with an investment of more than Rs 50 crore) in a timely manner. The aim of the investor conference is to further strengthen and coordinate efforts to make Kerala an investment-friendly state in line with the Industrial Policy 2023.

The Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules will be amended to address various issues faced by the stone mining sector. The royalty rate for stone (laterite (building stone)) will be reduced from the current Rs 48 to Rs 32. The financial guarantee for stone mining (laterite (building stone)) alone will be reduced from the current Rs 2 lakh to Rs 50,000 by amending the KMMC Rules 13 of 2023. The rules will be amended by allowing two installments for payment of the royalty amount for stone (laterite (building stone)). After the amendment of the KMMC Rules on 31.03.2023, a committee formed to examine the issues in the stone sector in the state, including mining and geology officials, had submitted its recommendations.

The government has approved the granting of administrative sanction for the construction of the Kainur Regulator-cum-Bridge across the Manali River at a cost of Rs 10 crore.