Kerala IPS officer Sujith Das suspended after Left MLA alleges links with smugglers

Anvar had alleged that Das had links with smugglers while serving as SP of Malappuram district.

The allegation had snowballed into a major political controversy after Anvar alleged ADGP law and order M R Ajith Kumar was also involved.

A 2015-batch IPS officer of Kerala cadre S Sujith Das was suspended from service Thursday following a series of allegations levelled against him by CPI(M)-backed independent legislator P V Anvar earlier this week.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan has ordered his suspension, said an official communication from the CMO.

Anvar had alleged that Das had links with smugglers while serving as SP of Malappuram district. He claimed that police busted several smuggling cases outside Kozhikode international airport. After Customs clearance, police would chase the gangs and seize gold, he claimed, adding that even if smuggled gold is detected during Customs checking, the smugglers were allowed to move out from the airport.

Outside, police would act on the tip-off from Customs and seize the gold, he said. Only a portion of the seized gold will be handed over to Customs and the rest would go to police, he said.

The allegation had snowballed into a major political controversy after Anvar alleged ADGP law and order M R Ajith Kumar was also involved.

DIG Ajeetha Begum was entrusted with investigating the allegations against Das. The DIG, in her report, had found serious lapses on the part of the SP, following which the officer was suspended.

Das was embroiled in another controversy after Anvar released an audio clip, in which the IPS officer can purportedly be heard pleading with the Left MLA to withdraw a complaint in relation to an alleged illegal felling of trees at SP camp office compound in Malappuram.

Shaju Philip

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

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