Kerala ex-CM Vijayan's 5 security officials suspended in 2023 Nava Kerala Yatra attack case
Synopsis
Five of former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's personal security officers have been suspended over the 2023 roadside assault on Youth Congress protesters — and the probe is now reaching a senior IPS officer accused of trying to bury the investigation. With anticipatory bail sought and a DGP promotion on the line, the case is turning into a full-scale accountability reckoning for the previous LDF administration.
Key Takeaways
Five police personnel attached to former Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan — gunmen Anil Kumar and Sandeep , and escorts Shaiju , Arun , and Vipin — were suspended on Tuesday .
The suspensions follow an SIT finding that the officers unlawfully used force against Youth Congress and KSU workers during the Nava Kerala Yatra in Alappuzha in December 2023 .
Ajith Kumar is accused of allegedly attempting to sabotage the SIT investigation and manipulate the case diary; a final decision on action rests with Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala .
The developments are expected to derail Ajith Kumar's anticipated elevation to DGP in July .
The suspended officers have sought anticipatory bail from the Alappuzha district court, which has kept the application pending.
Thomas , 31 , is now the Congress MLA from Alappuzha .
Five police personnel attached to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, including his personal gunmen, were suspended on Tuesday in connection with the Nava Kerala Yatra assault case of December 2023, as the new UDF government moved decisively against officers accused of attacking Youth Congress and KSU workers during protests in Alappuzha. The action, ordered by the State Police Chief, marks a sharp escalation in one of Kerala's most politically charged policing controversies in recent memory.
Who Was Suspended
The suspended personnel include gunmen Anil Kumar and Sandeep, and escort officers Shaiju, Arun, and Vipin. Because the officers were attached to different units, suspension orders were issued centrally by the State Police Chief rather than individual unit commanders.
What the SIT Found
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted after V.D. Satheesan assumed charge as Chief Minister, reportedly concluded that the officers had unlawfully deployed force and weapons against black-flag protesters on the roadside during Vijayan's Nava Kerala Yatra in Alappuzha in December 2023. Visuals of the incident — showing gunmen stepping out of the Chief Minister's escort vehicle and physically assaulting protesters — had triggered widespread public outrage at the time.
Vijayan had defended the conduct of his security detail, describing it as a 'rescue operation' undertaken to ensure his personal safety. That justification drew fierce condemnation from the then Congress-led Opposition.
Senior Officer Ajith Kumar Under Scrutiny
The SIT's findings have also implicated Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M. R. Ajith Kumar, who is accused of allegedly attempting to sabotage the investigation and manipulate the case diary using his official position. The State Police Chief is expected to submit the SIT's detailed report to Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, who will take a final decision on disciplinary action and potential criminal proceedings against the senior officer.
The alleged suppression of a security lapse report submitted by former Alappuzha police chief Chaithra Teresa John has reportedly further strengthened the case against Ajith Kumar. The government is also examining whether criminal charges — including fabrication of false records — can be invoked. These developments are expected to significantly affect Ajith Kumar's prospects of elevation to the post of Director General of Police (DGP) in July.
Court Proceedings and Anticipatory Bail
Fearing imminent arrest, the suspended officials have approached the district court in Alappuzha seeking anticipatory bail. The court, after the matter came up for hearing, sought a police report and kept the application in abeyance.
Political Significance and What Comes Next
The case carries particular political weight: one of the victims of the December 2023 assault is A.D. Thomas, 31, now the Congress legislator from Alappuzha, who rose to public prominence following the incident. Satheesan had made a clear campaign pledge that a UDF government would ensure stern accountability for those who attacked student and youth workers — the suspensions signal that pledge is being acted upon. With the government adopting an aggressive posture, officials and observers expect the probe to widen further, with additional personnel potentially facing action in the coming days.
Point of View
And acting on it within weeks of taking office sends an unmistakable signal to the bureaucracy and police hierarchy. But the more consequential thread is the SIT's findings against ADGP Ajith Kumar: if a senior IPS officer is found to have manipulated a case diary, it raises systemic questions about how Kerala's police command responds when political patrons are implicated. The anticipated DGP promotion now hangs in the balance, and the outcome will test whether the new government's accountability stance extends to institutional reform or stops at headline suspensions.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Pinarayi Vijayan's security personnel suspended?
Five police officers attached to former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were suspended after an SIT reportedly concluded they had unlawfully used force against Youth Congress and KSU workers during protests in Alappuzha in December 2023. The officers were seen in widely circulated visuals stepping out of the CM's escort vehicle and physically attacking black-flag protesters.
What is the Nava Kerala Yatra assault case?
The Nava Kerala Yatra assault case refers to an incident in December 2023 in Alappuzha, where security personnel from then-CM Pinarayi Vijayan's convoy allegedly attacked protesters who had gathered with black flags against his yatra. The incident drew massive public outrage and became a major political controversy in Kerala.
Who is ADGP Ajith Kumar and why is he under scrutiny?
M. R. Ajith Kumar is an Additional Director General of Police in Kerala who is accused of allegedly attempting to sabotage the SIT investigation into the Nava Kerala Yatra assault and manipulate the case diary. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala is expected to decide on disciplinary and possible criminal action against him, and the probe is likely to affect his anticipated elevation to DGP in July.
What action has the Alappuzha court taken on the anticipatory bail plea?
The district court in Alappuzha has sought a police report on the anticipatory bail application filed by the suspended officers and kept the matter in abeyance pending that report.
Who is A.D. Thomas and what is his connection to the case?
A.D. Thomas, 31, is currently the Congress Member of the Legislative Assembly from Alappuzha. He was one of the victims of the December 2023 assault during the Nava Kerala Yatra protests and rose to public prominence following the incident.
