Kochi: The Home Department suspended two senior officers on Tuesday amid accusations of unauthorised visitor access at the Ernakulam District Jail. The action was prompted by reports that the officials facilitated special privileges for businessman Boby Chemmanur, alias Boche, including visits from VIPs during his detention at the Kakkanad jail on January 10.

Central Zone Jail Deputy Inspector General (DIG) P Ajayakumar and Ernakulam District Jail Superintendent Raju Abraham were suspended, pending inquiry, following an order by Home and Vigilance Department Additional Chief Secretary Bishwanath Sinha.

Chemmanur was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody on January 9 by the Ernakulam First Class Judicial Magistrate Court after being booked in a sexual harassment case filed by actor Honey Rose. Although the Kerala High Court granted him bail on January 14, he chose to delay his release by a day, expressing solidarity with remand prisoners facing difficulties in securing their freedom.

Rose accused Chemmanur of making sexually inappropriate remarks during an incident four months earlier. Her disclosure on social media also led to a surge of cyberattacks against her. A subsequent police complaint resulted in Chemmanur’s arrest at his Wayanad resort on January 8. Authorities have also arrested nearly two dozen individuals involved in online abuse targeting the actor.