The institutional credibility of the Kerala Police has come under sharp scrutiny after three new Special Investigation Teams (SITs) were constituted to reopen politically sensitive cases that had seen little progress during the second term of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The fresh investigations, initiated following V.D. Satheesan taking charge as Chief Minister, are now producing rapid developments across all three cases.

The Three Cases Under Fresh Investigation

The cases now under SIT review are the Vadakara 'Kafir screenshot' controversy, the alleged assault on Youth Congress workers by security personnel attached to the then Chief Minister in Alappuzha, and a mid-air confrontation aboard an IndiGo flight involving Youth Congress activists and former CPI(M) Minister E.P. Jayarajan.

The latest development came on Wednesday with the formation of a new SIT to probe the IndiGo flight incident. The confrontation occurred when Youth Congress activists raised slogans against then Chief Minister Vijayan while travelling from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram. Jayarajan, who was also on board, reportedly intervened after the protest. A complaint filed by the activists alleging assault had not resulted in any visible action at the time.

What Chief Minister Satheesan Said

Reacting to the SIT's formation on Wednesday, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan said that had he been in such a situation and the protesters were not violent, he would have approached them to understand their grievance rather than resorting to force. 'No action was taken against the complaint filed by the Youth Congress activists,' Satheesan said.

Progress in the Other Two Cases

In the Vadakara 'Kafir screenshot' case — which became a major controversy during the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign — the investigation had remained stalled for a considerable period before the SIT recently arrested a CPI(M) youth wing activist.

In the Alappuzha incident, Youth Congress workers had alleged they were attacked by security personnel attached to the then Chief Minister during a protest. Though complaints were filed, no significant action followed initially. The officials involved have since been suspended, questioned by the SIT, and the prosecution has approached the High Court opposing their anticipatory bail plea.

The Larger Question of Institutional Impartiality

The three cases have collectively reignited a broader debate about whether the Kerala Police investigates politically sensitive matters with equal urgency, irrespective of the political standing of those involved. Critics argue that the renewed pace of action — coinciding with a change in government — raises questions about whether the force operates on the basis of law and evidence or tracks the shifting political environment.

This is not the first time Kerala's police machinery has faced such scrutiny; similar concerns surfaced during earlier political transitions in the state. For the force, the three SITs now represent a test of whether institutional credibility can be restored — or whether the perception of politicised policing endures beyond any single administration.