Thrissur Pooram case: Home secy endorses action against Ajith Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram: Additional chief secretary (home and vigilance) endorsed former state police chief's report recommending action against ADGP M R Ajith Kumar in connection with serious lapses during Thrissur Pooram celebrations, it is reliably learned.

The report, prepared by former DGP Sheikh Darvesh Sahib and now forwarded to the chief minister, cites a grave dereliction of duty and recommended disciplinary proceedings against the senior officer.

The police chief's report, it is learned, points out that Kumar, the senior-most officer on duty present in Thrissur, failed to act even as tensions escalated during the Pooram in 2024. Despite being alerted by revenue minister K Rajan about an altercation between then Thrissur commissioner Ankit Asok and the Pooram organisers, Kumar reportedly assured that he would review the situation at night and handle it appropriately. However, when the situation deteriorated, the officer allegedly became unreachable. Rajan is learned to have told the inquiry team that Kumar didn't respond to calls made during the peak of the crisis.

Govt announced a three-tier investigation into the incident and the current development comes nearly a year after the probe was initiated. The home secretary's endorsement of police chief's findings signals govt's seriousness in acting on the internal report.

Kumar faced multiple controversies during his career. He was appointed as director of vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) in April 2022 and took charge on April 22. But in May 2022, VACB faced criticism for its handling of the detention of P S Sarith, an accused in the Thiruvananthapuram gold smuggling case. On June 10, 2022, he was removed as vigilance chief.

Subsequently, he was appointed as ADGP (protection of civil rights), a newly created post. By Oct 2022, he was reinstated as ADGP (law and order). However, on Oct 6, 2024, govt once again removed him from the post following an adverse report by then DGP Sahib and political pressure from ruling allies, CPI and RJD. The charge of law and order was then handed over to Manoj Abraham, though Kumar continued to head the armed police battalion. On Jan 30, 2025, he was relieved of his additional post as central sports officer.

Besides this, Kumar was in the spotlight over other controversies too. He faced a vigilance probe for alleged amassment of wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. Though an inquiry eventually exonerated him, the episode added to the cloud over his public image. He was then dragged into a controversy over alleged links to a gold smuggling racket — a charge publicly levelled by former MLA P V Anvar — though no official action followed those claims.