Kochi: The Kerala High Court has directed the Additional Chief Secretary of the Home Department and the Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to produce, in a sealed cover within 10 days, the documents relied upon to conclude that a vigilance inquiry was not warranted into allegations involving DGP S. Sreejith, a 1996-batch IPS officer of the Kerala cadre.
Justice A. Badharudeen passed the direction while hearing a petition filed by Dipin Edavana, an Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspector, challenging the decision not to proceed with a vigilance investigation into allegations against the senior police officer. The matter has been posted for further consideration on September 7.
What Are the Allegations Against Sreejith?
The petition concerns allegations linked to an incident during Sreejith’s tenure as Kerala Transport Commissioner.
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According to the petitioner’s allegations, Sreejith had attended the inauguration of a private enterprise abroad while wearing his police uniform. The petitioner has also raised broader allegations concerning alleged irregularities and abuse of authority during Sreejith’s tenure as Transport Commissioner between April 2022 and August 2024.
The allegations have been made by Edavana and have not been established by the court.
Court Seeks Basis for Decision Not to Hold Inquiry
The latest order follows a series of proceedings over how the complaint was examined by the state authorities.
The government had earlier considered the complaint and concluded that a vigilance investigation was not warranted at that stage. Edavana subsequently approached the High Court, challenging that decision and seeking access to the material on which it was based.
The court has now directed the authorities to place the relevant documents before it in a sealed cover, allowing the bench to examine the basis of the decision.
Key points from the latest development:
- The Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, and VACB Director have been directed to produce the records.
- The documents are to be submitted within 10 days.
- The records are to be produced in a sealed cover.
- The direction concerns the material used to decide that no vigilance inquiry was required at this stage.
- The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 7.
Earlier Court Intervention Over Complaint Procedure
The latest proceedings follow an earlier order in which the High Court had criticised the manner in which the complaint was being considered.
In July, the court set aside an earlier report and directed the Additional Chief Secretary to provide Edavana an independent personal hearing in the absence of S. Sreejith, followed by a fresh decision on the complaints. The court also directed the authorities to consider a report submitted by the VACB.
The court had observed that requiring a complainant to participate in a hearing in the presence of the officer against whom serious allegations had been made could not be regarded as a fair procedure.
Government Earlier Said Vigilance Probe Was Not Warranted
Following the court’s directions, the Additional Chief Secretary appeared before the High Court and informed it that the directions had been complied with.
The government subsequently maintained that a vigilance investigation against Sreejith was not warranted at that stage. Edavana has challenged that decision before the High Court.
The latest order seeking the underlying documents will allow the court to examine the material considered by the authorities while arriving at that conclusion.
Case Before the Kerala High Court
The proceedings arise from Dipin Edavana v. State of Kerala and Others. The matter has involved the State Government, the VACB and S. Sreejith among the respondents.
The High Court’s latest direction does not itself determine the truth of the allegations against Sreejith. It concerns the records and basis of the administrative decision not to initiate a vigilance inquiry at this stage.
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