Ruling Left MLA targets CM's political secretary senior IPS officer in Kerala

     Malappuram/ Kochi, Sep 1 (PTI) Ruling LDF legislator P V Anwar's scathing attack on Sunday against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's political secretary P Sasi and senior IPS officer M R Ajith Kumar, a confidant of the CM, put the state government in a fix.

     A businessman-turned politician and two-time MLA, Anwar accused Sasi and Ajith Kumar, serving as the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), of breaching the trust of the CM and failing to deliver their responsibilities honestly.


    The Left MLA's allegations against the key person in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) and the top rank official triggered sharp political reactions among Opposition parties which demanded the immediate resignation of CM Vijayan.


    The Congress leadership described Anwar's charges as "utmost serious" and "alarming" and wanted a comprehensive probe into the alleged illegal activities being held in the CMO, while the BJP urged the CM to reply to the allegations raised by the ruling front MLA.


    Addressing a press conference here, the Nilambur MLA hit out at some senior police officers including Kumar and Pathanamthitta SP Sujith Das, alleging that many of them were engaging in "anti-national and anti-social activities".

    "Sasi and Ajith Kumar are officials whom the CM has entrusted significant responsibilities with trust. Here, the issue is whether those responsibilities entrusted upon them are delivered honestly," he said.

    Raising serious charges against Ajith Kumar, Anwar accused the senior IPS officer of tapping the phone conversations of ministers, political leaders and journalists.

    He also alleged that the officer had close connections with gold smuggling rackets and was involved in several serious crimes.


     The MLA claimed that officials like Ajith Kumar and Sujith Das would surely end up behind bars because of their illegal and criminal activities.

    He expressed concern that Chief Minister Vijayan and his government may have to face the blame for the actions of such officials.

    Anwar said the chief minister has 29 portfolios and he has entrusted officials with its responsibilities.

    Several malpractices are happening and political secretary Sasi has failed in correctly analysing them and briefing the CM about them, the MLA said.

    Anwar also claimed that his life is under threat but he would continue to expose such illegal activities.

     However, there was no immediate reaction from Sasi or Ajith Kumar over MLA's allegations.

    While talking to reporters in Kochi, opposition leader V D Satheesan said the shocking allegations against the CMO were raised by a ruling front MLA who is a confidant of CM Vijayan.


    The opposition's allegation that the police force in the state is being controlled by a coterie in the CMO has been proved to be correct now, he said.

    "All these charges were not raised by the Opposition, but by the Chief Minister's trusted MLA. The CM has no right to continue in office even for a second," Satheesan said.

    All the accused officials should be suspended with immediate effect and the political secretary Sasi should also be removed, the LoP said.

     "It is a serious allegation that the ADGP is even tapping the phones of ministers...The opposition's demand is that the CBI must investigate all these," he added.

    BJP state chief K Surendran and veteran party leader V Muraleedharan also shared similar views and said the allegations were against the CM and his office.
    "The CM should reply to all these allegations. ADGP Ajith Kumar is CM's confidant. MLA Anwar said that he is tapping phones of ministers. So, Vijayan should make it clear whether Ajith Kumar is tapping phones for him," Surendran said in a statement.
    The BJP leader further said it cannot be believed that his political secretary would do anything without the knowledge of the CM.

    When a ruling MLA says that the ADGP (law and order) has connections with gold smugglers and underworld mafia gangs, it has now become clear that the CMO is leading all criminal activities in the state, Surendran charged.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)