On the day when a Kerala police officer, PR Sunu, SHO of Beypore Police Station, was suspended for "bad character", Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in the Assembly that as many as 828 police officers have been accused of criminal cases in the last six years.
The state home minister has also initiated action against cops, who have been accused of serious crimes, said a Matrubhumi report. At least 60 officers are involved in similar offences. It was reported that capital city Thiruvananthapuram has the highest number of officers, who are involved in criminal offences.
Meanwhile, Invoking Section 86 of the Kerala Police Act for the first time, State Police Chief Anil Kant ordered the removal of PR Sunu, suspended SHO of Beypore Police Station. The section lays down the conditions, which includes being accused of criminal offences, for termination from the force.
The move comes in the wake of a strong directive from the State government to take action 'against criminals' in the police, a statement issued by the State Police Media Cell said.
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Sunu is an accused in four criminal cases, including that of rape, and has also faced departmental action over 10 times.
The Station House Officer was suspended in November last year based on a report filed by the Ernakulam City Police Commissioner C H Nagaraju stating that Sunu has connections with allegedly undesirable elements.
Thrikkakara Police, in Ernakulam District, had late last year registered a rape case against Sunu and others on a complaint by a woman and had taken him into custody. However, no arrest was recorded due to lack of evidence against him, police had said back then.
(With PTI inputs)