Kerala Chief Secretary Sarada Muraleedharan, a 1990-batch IAS officer, has issued a charge memo to suspended IAS officer K. Gopalakrishnan, a 2013-batch officer, who is under investigation for allegedly forming a WhatsApp group on religious lines.
While talking to the media, Ms. Muraleedharan confirmed that the memo had been issued recently, and the administration is awaiting Mr. Gopalakrishnan’s response. “We are assessing the situation based on his reply. If it is found satisfactory, the matter will be closed. Otherwise, further disciplinary actions, including the appointment of an inquiry officer, will be considered,” she stated.
The controversy began when Mr. Gopalakrishnan was accused of creating a WhatsApp group named “Mallu Hindu,” reportedly involving civil servants. While the officer claimed his account had been hacked, forensic examinations were inconclusive as the phone had been wiped clean, preventing verification of his claims.
The allegations have sparked concerns about the implications of such a group within the bureaucracy, which is expected to uphold a secular and impartial ethos. Authorities continue to deliberate the next steps based on the evidence and the officer’s response.
Further developments are awaited in this high-profile case, which has raised questions about the accountability and neutrality of public servants.
