ADGP S Sreejith
Following Alam’s submission that Sreekumar’s promotion would be considered at the next DPC meeting, the court directed him to file an affidavit to that effect and dispensed with his personal appearance. Kochi : Additional chief secretary of the home department Minhaj Alam on Thursday informed the high court that no vigilance inquiry was warranted, for the time being, against DGP S Sreejith on a complaint alleging that he had attended the inauguration of a private enterprise abroad while wearing his police uniform. Meanwhile, the bench dispensed with Alam’s personal appearance on Friday in another contempt case alleging non-compliance with the court’s directive to consider the promotion of P Sreekumar, a police inspector who had been arrayed as an accused in two cases in connection with the Monson Mavunkal case.
Subsequently, Alam directed Dipin to appear for a hearing on April 20. The case arose from a petition filed by Dipin Edavana, an assistant motor vehicle inspector from Kannur, seeking a vigilance inquiry into the allegation. Dipin did not attend, contending that the hearing was proposed to be held jointly in the presence of Sreejith. Thereafter, a report was submitted stating that Dipin had failed to cooperate with the inquiry and had raised baseless allegations without bona fides. The court set aside the report and directed Alam to reconsider the complaint after granting Dipin a personal hearing and pass fresh orders within three weeks. When the directive was not complied with and Alam sought additional time, the court directed his personal appearance. The court orally criticised him for having his subordinate file the application seeking additional time instead of filing it himself. However, the court closed the petition after recording Alam’s submission, while preserving Dipin’s liberty to pursue further remedies in accordance with law.
Alam made the submission when he appeared before the court in compliance with its direction for his personal appearance over the non-compliance with an earlier directive in the matter. The HC had earlier directed the vigilance department to consider the complaint. Appearing on Thursday, Alam submitted that the directive had since been complied with and that an order had been issued stating that a vigilance investigation was not warranted for the time being.