In a significant move, the Kerala government on Wednesday decided to promote senior IPS officer M R Ajith Kumar to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP). The promotion comes despite the officer being embroiled in a political controversy over his alleged ‘controversial meetings’ with RSS leaders.
Ajith Kumar, a 1995-batch IPS officer, had recently been stripped of his law and order responsibilities following allegations and public outcry over his interactions with RSS leaders. In October, he was reassigned to the Armed Police Battalion, a decision that followed a political row involving the officer. However, in a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, the government approved the recommendation to promote him to the highest position in the state police force. A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) confirmed that the promotion had been given the green light after review by the scrutiny committee.
Along with Ajith Kumar, fellow 1995-batch officer S Suresh will also be elevated to the rank of DGP. The promotion list for the top police ranks will be finalized following the appointment of Manoj Abraham, a 1994-batch officer. Additionally, Tarun Kumar, a 2000-batch IPS officer, will be promoted to ADGP, and four officers from the 2007 batch will be promoted to the rank of IG.
Ajith Kumar had faced strong criticism, particularly from opposition parties and the Communist Party of India (CPI), due to his meetings with senior RSS leaders last year. The controversy intensified following accusations that he played a role in disrupting the Thrissur Pooram festival, with Congress alleging that the police actions were politically motivated to help the BJP secure the Lok Sabha seat from central Kerala. Independent MLA P V Anvar, who recently parted ways with the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), also made serious allegations against Ajith Kumar, which the officer denied.
Despite the ongoing controversies, the Kerala government has moved forward with the promotion, signaling its confidence in the officer’s capabilities and reaffirming its support.
