Festival of probes into Thrissur pooram fiasco. ADGP Ajith Kumar stays on

Thiruvananthapuram: Even DGP Sheik Darvesh Saheb's adverse comments against ADGP (law and order) M R Ajith Kumar in the 'Thrissur pooram' fiasco and the subsequent backing the DGP's observations got from the additional chief secretary (home) Bishwanath Sinha were not enough to topple the top cop from his high position. Ajith Kumar stays on as ADGP (law and order) under the LDF government.

Then there was the CPI's spirited political stand that an officer who had secretly met with RSS leaders should be removed even without a probe. This was never paid heed to by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and, even after CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam served what looked like an ultimatum on October 2, the CM has not budged an inch from his stated position. "No officer can be subjected to punitive action without a proper report," the Chief Minister told reporters on Thursday.

So it does not matter that the DGP himself had found the ADGP wanting in restoring order at the 'pooram'. The CM himself on Thursday revealed that the DGP had picked holes in the 'Thrissur pooram' report prepared by the ADGP. The ADGP's report had laid the blame on the inexperience of commissioner Ankit Ashokan.

But the DGP, in his preface to the ADGP's report, had pulled up the ADGP, and the CM confirmed this. "The DGP has spoken about the ADGP's failure to reach the spot (when the situation worsened)," the Chief Minister said.

However, instead of asking the ADGP to step aside, the CM has asked the DGP to conduct a further probe on the ADGP's role in the mishandling of the 'pooram'. "It was not as part of any detailed examination that the DGP made those remarks (about the ADGP keeping away from the 'pooram' site though he was nearby). This should be probed in detail. So the DGP himself has been asked to investigate," the CM said.

On one side, as the DGP's remarks suggest, there has been a leadership failure on the part of the ADGP in the Thrissur pooram issue. And on the other, the ADGP seems to have messed up even a relatively simpler job: a comprehensive probe into the events that led to the disruption of the 'Thrissur pooram'.

Not only is the ADGP now under investigation for his role in the mishandling of the 'pooram' but the government, finding the ADGP report too inadequate, has announced two more probes.

One by Crime Branch head ADGP H Venkitesh on attempts to sabotage the 'pooram', the very reason for which the ADGP was asked to probe in the first place. The CM said the ADGP's report had mention of the Sangh Parivar's role in creating disarray at the 'pooram' grounds with an eye on the Lok Sabha elections. It is not clear whether the ADGP report has furnished any proof of this.

The second probe will be headed by Intelligence ADGP Manoj Abraham and will look into the negligence, if any, of officials of various government departments involved in the conduct of the 'pooram'. This, again, was part of the ADGP's terms of reference.

Forget the accusations; the ADGP stays on even after a series of professional foul-ups.

Nonetheless, like in his last press conference on September 21, the CM sought to give the impression that the ADGP could soon be on his way out.

The deadline for the DGP's report on P V Anvar's charges against the ADGP was September 30. The CM said the report would come to him any time soon. "Once the report is in my hands, appropriate action will be taken," he said. Even if the report contains damning information against the ADGP, there is the possibility that another probe would be ordered on the basis of its findings.

The CM seems to be creating a layer of probes, one upon the other, as protection for the ADGP.