What Happened to Yogesh Gupta: From Key Kerala Bureaucrat to Persona Non Grata?

Thiruvananthapuram, June 21 (NationPress) Yogesh Gupta, a prominent IPS officer holding the rank of Kerala Director General of Police, is now navigating an uncertain path after losing favor with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Gupta, who has long been recognized as a reputable and effective officer, has held multiple terms as the Managing Director of the Kerala State Beverages Corporation -- a position known for its political significance and sensitivity, given the Corporation's role as the state's largest revenue generator through liquor sales.

Equipped with a unique blend of bureaucratic and financial skills, Gupta is not merely an IPS officer but also a qualified cost and chartered accountant. His vast expertise made him a sought-after choice among various administrations.

Until recently, he earned the trust of Vijayan, who also oversees the Home portfolio. However, this dynamic shifted dramatically when Gupta, while leading the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), submitted case files concerning K.M. Abraham -- Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and former Chief Secretary -- directly to the Kerala High Court without obtaining approval from senior officials.

Abraham, regarded as one of Vijayan’s most reliable allies, was under investigation in a disproportionate assets case.

Gupta’s actions prompted the High Court to mandate a CBI probe against Abraham. Although Abraham subsequently secured a stay on the investigation from the Supreme Court, the harm to Gupta’s reputation had already been inflicted.

Shortly thereafter, Gupta was reassigned from the VACB to the Director of the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services -- clearly a demotion in terms of bureaucratic influence.

What ensued has been a bureaucratic impasse. Gupta is now struggling to acquire a necessary Vigilance clearance certificate from the state government -- a document required by the Centre for evaluating officers for prestigious roles in national agencies like the CBI and Enforcement Directorate.

Ironically, Gupta has previously completed five-year tenures with both the CBI and ED.

Despite several reminders from the Centre to Chief Secretary A. Jayathilak, the file remains stagnant -- allegedly on the Chief Minister's desk.

On June 2, exasperated, Gupta filed a formal complaint to the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell, outlining his situation and requesting intervention. His appeal has yet to be addressed, nor has his request for a meeting with the Chief Minister been fulfilled.

Gupta’s name is among six IPS officers shortlisted by the state government for consideration by the UPSC for the position of State Police Chief. However, even if he makes it to the final shortlist of three, sources suggest he is unlikely to be selected due to his current status as persona non grata in the Chief Minister’s office.

Observers are now left to ponder whether Gupta will encounter a fate akin to that of Jacob Thomas -- another notable officer who was appointed VACB chief by Vijayan in 2016 but was later marginalized and retired while managing an obscure PSU manufacturing farm tools.

Unless Gupta secures a central posting, his situation could serve as yet another illustration of how bureaucratic careers in Kerala are increasingly influenced by political dynamics.