Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government is expected to appoint the next eligible officer to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) following the suspension of M R Ajith Kumar (IPS:1995:KL), a move that has triggered a complex succession process within the state’s IPS cadre.
According to official sources, Chief Secretary Biswanath Sinha has recommended the promotion of S Sreejith (IPS:1995:KL) to the DGP rank. The recommendation comes after the government suspended Ajith Kumar over allegations that he protected the security team of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in connection with the Nava Kerala assault case of December 2023.
S Sreejith Emerges as Front-Runner
Ajith Kumar, a 1995-batch IPS officer, is due to retire in January 2027, while S Sreejith, who belongs to the same batch, is scheduled to retire in May 2027.
With disciplinary proceedings against Ajith Kumar expected to continue for several months, the government is likely to fill the vacant DGP-rank position by promoting Sreejith.
However, officials point out that the appointment may only be an interim arrangement if the enquiry concludes in Ajith Kumar’s favour.
Exoneration Could Create Administrative Challenge
If Ajith Kumar is eventually exonerated, the government would be required to restore his career progression by promoting him to the DGP rank.
This could create an administrative challenge because the Kerala IPS cadre has only four sanctioned DGP-rank posts.
Unless the disciplinary proceedings conclude before June 2027, when incumbent State Police Chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar is due to retire, the government may have to either:
- Demote the officer promoted in Ajith Kumar’s place back to the rank of ADGP, or
- Find an alternative administrative arrangement until a regular vacancy arises.
Return of Suresh Rajpurohit May Further Complicate Matters
The succession issue could become even more complex with the expected return of Suresh Rajpurohit (IPS:1995:KL) from central deputation in January 2027.
Since Rajpurohit is senior to Ajith Kumar, the government would also be required to elevate him to the DGP rank upon his return.
As Rajpurohit is expected to retire within four months of returning, the government is likely to invoke the second proviso to Rule 4(2) of the IPS (Cadre) Rules, which permits the temporary creation of an equivalent cadre post for up to one year.
This provision would allow his promotion without disturbing the existing cadre structure.
Suspension Followed Enquiry Report
The government suspended Ajith Kumar after receiving the enquiry report submitted by the State Police Chief.
A separate enquiry officer will now be appointed to conduct disciplinary proceedings against him.
According to sources, the allegations against Ajith Kumar are considered serious, making it difficult for him to avoid disciplinary action if the charges are substantiated.
Nava Kerala Assault Case
The disciplinary action stems from allegations that Ajith Kumar manipulated the investigation into the December 2023 Nava Kerala assault case, in which members of the then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s security team allegedly assaulted Youth Congress activists during a protest in Alappuzha.
The enquiry reportedly concluded that Ajith Kumar had acted to shield members of the security team, prompting the government to initiate disciplinary proceedings and suspend him from service.
The outcome of the enquiry will not only determine Ajith Kumar’s future but could also significantly influence the composition of Kerala’s top police leadership over the coming year.
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