Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the race for the State Police Chief’s (SPC) publish strikes into the ultimate lap, all eyes at the moment are fastened on the destiny of the felony case involving the daughter of DGP Sudesh Kumar.
The Crime Branch had just lately determined to refer the case – referring to the daughter allegedly assaulting Kumar’s driver who was on official responsibility – to State Police Chief Loknath Behera for a last determination on the matter. If the SPC clears the chargesheet, Kumar’s probabilities will endure a setback.
Kumar, the vigilance director, and Tomin Thachankary, the managing director of the Kerala Financial Corporation, are the frontrunners to turn out to be the following SPC. The publish is ready to fall vacant on June 30 when Behera retires.
Though Prisons DGP Rishiraj Singh is probably the most senior officer, he won’t be thought of for the publish as he superannuates in July. The state authorities has already forwarded an inventory of senior officers to be thought of for the publish to the Centre. The Union authorities will shortlist three names and revert to the state authorities later this month.
Thachankary too is dealing with a hurdle. A disproportionate property case, by which the chargesheet has been submitted, is pending on the Vigilance Court in Kottayam towards Thachankary. In a rare transfer, Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Vigilance) TK Jose had ordered a recent vigilance probe into the case in January following a criticism by Thachankary alleging lapses within the earlier investigation.
It is learnt a particular vigilance investigation report is getting last form. If the report acquits Thachankary, it will likely be a shot within the arm for the officer to stake a declare for the SPC’s publish.
Meanwhile, sources within the police stated the Crime Branch’s transfer to refer the case referring to Kumar’s daughter to the State Police Chief is a transparent violation of an earlier round. Issued in 2019 by the State Police Chief, it has clearly categorised the character of circumstances to be scrutinised and disposed of by the Crime Branch ADGP, IGs and unit SPs.
‘Dilly-dallying by CB on chargesheet filing may affect Kumar’s probabilities’
Going by the round, the case referring to Kumar’s daughter is to be disposed of by the Crime Branch SP, contemplating the character of fees levelled towards her.But, as an alternative of submitting a chargesheet within the case registered in 2018, the case has been referred to Addl DGP (Crimes) by the Crime Branch SP who investigated the case and the ADGP reportedly sought SPC’s opinion.
As per the round, solely circumstances associated to homicide, custodial demise, private investigation circumstances entrusted with officers of and above the rank of SP, delicate circumstances involving state/central ministers, all-India service officers and MLAs and MPs, UAPA circumstances, cognisable offences registered towards law enforcement officials of and above the rank of SP, police encounter circumstances, and any case directed particularly by the court docket/authorities/SPC to be investigated/supervised personally by the ADGP are to scrutinised and disposed of by the ADGP.
In this specific case, IPC Sections 324, 332 and 294-B have been invoked towards the accused girl. The case doesn’t require a referral to the Crime Branch ADGP or the SPC. According to a senior police officer, it’s getting used as a device to dent the prospects of the contender to the highest publish.
The dilly-dallying by the Crime Branch(CB) concerning the submitting of a chargesheet within the case, which might have been settled by the court docket in two or three months, might presumably have an effect on Kumar’s probabilities.
It just isn’t a secret that the senior IPS officers within the state are vertically break up into two teams favouring Kumar and Thachankary as the following State Police Chief. A bit, largely comprising north Indian officers, favours Kumar although Thachankary is the senior of the 2.
Thachankary, Kumar and Special Protection Group (SPG) Director Arun Kumar Sinha, who’s on central deputation, are 1987 batch IPS officers. Of them, Sinha is probably the most senior however he’s unlikely to return to Kerala.
Tale of two circumstances
The case towards Sudesh Kumar’s daughter is said to an incident that occurred in June 2018. Civil police officer Gavaskar lodged a criticism towards the then Addl DGP’s daughter, alleging that she hit him on his neck and shoulder with a cell phone. The Crime Branch is able to file a chargesheet any time and is awaiting SPC’s clearance.
The vigilance case towards Thachankary is said to alleged amassing of disproportionate property between 2003 and 2007. The VACB later filed a chargesheet towards him. The Vigilance Court has not framed fees but because the officer had filed a discharge petition at HC.
