The State government on Thursday informed the Ernakulam Bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that the statements of the police officers concerned indicated that certain witness statements and case diary records in connection with the assault on Youth Congress workers in Alappuzha in 2023 by the security personnel of the then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were allegedly re-written under the pressure and influence of the then ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar and his staff.
The government submitted that the SIT report in this regard disclosed serious allegations concerning the alleged misuse of his official position and interference by the officer who was subsequently suspended from service.
Suspension was an interim administrative measure to ensure that disciplinary proceedings were conducted fairly and without interference. The suspension order was passed after considering the materials placed before the government. They include the SIT report, a report by the State Police Chief, and the explanation submitted by Mr. Ajith Kumar.
The government filed the affidavit in response to a petition filed by Mr. Ajith Kumar challenging his suspension order.
The government added that the allegation that Mr. Ajith Kumar’s suspension was deliberately timed to deprive him of promotion to the post of DGP was untrue. The government cannot be prevented from taking disciplinary action merely because an offcer is due for consideration for promotion. The existence of a vacancy did not confer an absolute right to promotion, the government said.
The subsequent promotion of another eligible officer from the 1996 batch was undertaken in accordance with the applicable procedure and, therefore, the applicant cannot claim any right to seek promotion notwithstanding his suspension and pending disciplinary proceedings, the government added.
The affidavit further stated that Mr. Ajith Kumar had been afforded an opportunity to submit an explanation, before the suspension order was issued. The order, therefore, cannot be characterised as mechanical, the government submitted before the CAT.
Published – August 20, 2026 10:06 pm IST
