Kerala Cabinet Unanimously Approves Promotion Of Ajithkumar To DGP Rank

Ajithkumar, a 1995-batch IPS officer heading Armed Police Battalion, has been under scrutiny due to a vigilance probe into allegations of amassing illegal wealth and meetings with RSS leaders.

Kerala cabinet's decision to promote senior IPS officer MR Ajithkumar to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) was unanimous, state Food and Civil Supplies Minister GR Anil on Thursday. With this, he dismissed speculation of differences among ministers.

Ajithkumar, a 1995-batch IPS officer who currently leads the Armed Police Battalion, has come under examination as a result of a vigilance investigation into claims of unlawful wealth accumulation and reported meetings with RSS leaders. Despite the controversy, Minister Anil stated that the elevation was part of a standard process that included all qualified senior IPS officers and had nothing to do with the pending investigation.

"There is a precedent for this, and the cabinet approved the promotions of all the senior IPS officers, not only of a single person," Anil said, who is also a CPI leader. Addressing opposition criticism, he maintained that the decision was "quite natural" and suggested that concerns be directed to the party secretary.

The promotion comes amid political backlash from the Congress-led opposition and CPI allies within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). Ajithkumar had faced criticism for his alleged meetings with RSS leaders and his purported role in the disruption of the Thrissur Pooram festival, which Congress claimed was an attempt to benefit the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.

Ajithkumar was removed as ADGP (law and order) and reassigned to the Armed Police Battalion in October following the controversy. His promotion, along with that of S. Suresh, an officer on central deputation with the Special Protection Group, has reignited debate over the transparency of the government’s decisions.

Minister Anil reiterated that the inquiry into Ajithkumar’s alleged misconduct remains active and independent of the promotion decision. "The inquiry is a separate matter and is underway," he said.

The Kerala Cabinet’s move underscores its stance on the seniority-based promotion process, but it also highlights the political tensions within the state regarding governance and administrative accountability.