Kerala Police chief sends back SIT report on 2023 Alappuzha assault case, seeks clarity
Synopsis
Kerala's top cop has sent back the SIT report on the 2023 Alappuzha assault case — the one that implicates a senior IPS officer reportedly close to former CM Pinarayi Vijayan. With a DGP vacancy opening on 31 July and Congress demanding action, the government's next move on ADGP Ajithkumar will define whether accountability or caution wins this round.
Key Takeaways
Kerala State Police Chief Ravada A.
Chandrasekhar returned the SIT report on the 2023 Alappuzha assault case, seeking further clarity and supplementary investigation.
The report concerns ADGP M.R.
Ajithkumar , reportedly close to former CM Pinarayi Vijayan , whom the SIT is understood to have found attempted to derail the investigation.
No action has yet been taken against Ajithkumar , despite security personnel attached to the then CM already being suspended.
Ajithkumar is in line for promotion to Director General of Police , with a vacancy expected after a serving DGP retires on 31 July .
AICC General Secretary and Alappuzha MP K.C.
Venugopal and Minister K.
Muraleedharan have publicly demanded prompt government action.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has defended the cautious approach, citing the need for legal scrutiny before any decision.
Kerala State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar has returned the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report on the alleged 2023 assault on Youth Congress workers in Alappuzha, directing investigators to provide greater clarity on specific findings and conduct supplementary inquiries before resubmitting the document. The case involves gunmen attached to the then Chief Minister's security detail and has become one of the most politically charged law-enforcement matters in Kerala in recent years.
What the Police Chief Has Directed
According to reports, Chandrasekhar identified specific portions of the SIT report that require further elaboration and has asked the team to furnish additional details. Investigators have been instructed to carry out supplementary inquiries wherever necessary and submit the revised report at the earliest. The police security officials attached to the then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have already been suspended, but a decision on the report filed against ADGP M.R. Ajithkumar — considered close to the former Chief Minister — remains pending.
The Ajithkumar Question
The SIT is understood to have concluded that Ajithkumar attempted to derail the investigation into the assault case, though no action has yet been initiated against the senior officer. The delay has taken on added administrative weight: Ajithkumar is among the senior-most Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in line for promotion to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP). A vacancy is expected following the retirement of a serving DGP on 31 July, making the government's decision on the SIT report both politically and administratively consequential.
Congress Pushes for Action
The prolonged delay has drawn sharp reactions from within the Congress. All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary and Alappuzha Member of Parliament K.C. Venugopal has publicly described this as a serious issue and called on the state government to act. State Health and Devaswom Minister K. Muraleedharan has also sought prompt action. Several other Congress leaders have echoed similar sentiments, arguing that further delay risks undermining public confidence in the government's commitment to accountability.
Government Defends Cautious Approach
State Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has consistently defended the government's measured stance. He has maintained that there will be no undue haste or knee-jerk action, stressing that any decision must be grounded in a thorough examination of evidence and applicable legal provisions. Chennithala has argued that a premature decision — without proper application of mind — could weaken the government's position if challenged before the judiciary, making it imperative that the process withstand legal scrutiny.
What Happens Next
The SIT is now expected to address the specific gaps flagged by the State Police Chief and resubmit a revised report. With the 31 July DGP retirement deadline approaching and Congress pressure intensifying, the Kerala government faces a narrowing window to resolve both the administrative and political dimensions of the case. How it handles the Ajithkumar question will be closely watched as a test of accountability within the state's law-enforcement hierarchy.
Point of View
But it also conveniently defers a decision that carries real political cost. The SIT's conclusion — that a serving ADGP attempted to obstruct an investigation — is not a minor procedural finding; it strikes at the integrity of the state's own investigative machinery. The timing, with a DGP vacancy opening on 31 July, means inaction is itself a decision. If Ajithkumar is considered for promotion while the SIT report sits unresolved, the government's accountability credentials take a direct hit regardless of the legal fine print.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2023 Alappuzha assault case?
The case relates to an alleged assault on Youth Congress workers in Alappuzha in 2023, reportedly carried out by gunmen attached to the security detail of then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. A Special Investigation Team was constituted to probe the incident and the conduct of senior police officials linked to it.
Why has the Kerala Police Chief returned the SIT report?
State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar returned the report because certain portions required greater elaboration and supplementary investigation. He has directed the SIT to address the identified gaps and resubmit the revised report at the earliest.
Who is ADGP M.R. Ajithkumar and why is he central to this case?
Ajithkumar is a senior IPS officer reportedly close to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The SIT is understood to have found that he attempted to derail the investigation into the assault case, though no action has been initiated against him yet. He is also in line for promotion to Director General of Police, making the government's decision on the report administratively critical.
What is the significance of the 31 July deadline?
A serving Director General of Police is due to retire on 31 July, creating a vacancy. Since Ajithkumar is among the senior-most IPS officers eligible for promotion to that rank, the government must decide on the SIT report's findings against him before or around that date, adding urgency to an already delayed process.
What has the Congress demanded in this matter?
AICC General Secretary and Alappuzha MP K.C. Venugopal has called it a serious issue and urged the state government to act. Minister K. Muraleedharan has sought prompt action, and several other Congress leaders have warned that further delay could erode public confidence in the government's commitment to accountability.
