The Ajith Kumar Dilemma: Why delay in acting on the 'rakshapravarthanam case' comes at a political cost

One of the first decisions taken by V.D. Satheesan's Cabinet after coming to power was to order a fresh investigation and constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of police brutality during former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's 2023 Nava Kerala Sadas outreach programme in Alappuzha. At the heart of the case were allegations that Congress workers protesting by the roadside were assaulted and humiliated by Vijayan's security personnel—incidents that Vijayan himself later controversially defended as rakshapravarthanam" (a life-saving act").

The SIT submitted its report on June 23. According to sources, it contained, among other findings, significant observations against ADGP M.R. Ajith Kumar over allegations that he attempted to derail the investigation into the assault.

However, after weeks of inaction, Kerala Police DGP Ravada Chandrasekhar has now returned the report to the SIT, seeking greater clarity on certain findings before forwarding it to the government. The SIT has been directed to conduct further investigation into the identified areas and submit a revised report at the earliest.

The government has cited legal and procedural technicalities for delaying a decision on the allegations against Ajith Kumar. However, both the decision itself and its timing carry significant political implications. Here is why:

Guardians on both sides?

When the Congress was in the opposition, it had levelled serious allegations against Ajith Kumar and repeatedly accused him of shielding those responsible for the assault. The UDF also came to power on a promise of restoring accountability and reversing what it described as the excesses of the previous LDF government. Any perceived hesitation in acting on such a high-profile case therefore risks undermining the government's own narrative of change.

There have long been allegations that Ajith Kumar—whose name has been linked to multiple controversies during the Pinarayi Vijayan government—enjoyed political protection under the LDF regime.

The delay in acting on the SIT report has now fuelled allegations that he continues to enjoy political protection—this time from the UDF government.

Nithin Agrawal, the current Director of Fire and Rescue Services, is due to retire on July 31. With his retirement, Ajith Kumar becomes one of the officers eligible for consideration for promotion to the rank of DGP. Critics have therefore begun questioning whether the delay is intended to push the matter beyond July 31, allowing the promotion process to proceed before any decision is taken on the SIT's findings. Questions have also been raised about why no action has been initiated despite the report having been submitted nearly a month ago. Meanwhile, sources close to Ajith Kumar contend that there has been a deliberate attempt to derail his elevation to the DGP rank. They suspect that a section within the police force is actively working to tarnish his image by feeding adverse narratives about him.

Incidentally, the government's explanation for the delay so far is that legal opinion has been sought in the matter and that the report has been examined multiple times. Accordingly, certain portions of the report lack sufficient clarity, making it difficult to recommend action. The argument is that only after resolving those ambiguities through further investigation can the report be forwarded by the DGP to the government, thereby minimising the risk of any legal setback later.

Even so, the explanation has done little to quell allegations of foot-dragging.

Trust issues?

The delay is also likely to deepen discontent within the Congress and the Youth Congress, where many view the case as a litmus test of the Congress-led UDF government's commitment to delivering swift justice. Senior leaders, including AICC General Secretary and Alappuzha MP K.C. Venugopal, have publicly called for prompt action. Any further delay risks alienating the party's youth wing and grassroots workers who have been demanding accountability since the 2023 incident.

Incidentally, discontent is already brewing among a section of younger Congress workers over appointments made by Congress ministers to their personal staff and other political posts. Any further delay—or any perception that the government is shielding police officers implicated in the rakshapravarthanam case—could compound that resentment, reinforcing the view among sections of the party's youth cadre that their concerns are being sidelined. Youth Congress leaders, who did not want to be named, told THE WEEK that they will soon resort to open criticism if the government keeps delaying action on the SIT report.

In Kerala's politically conscious society, the episode also feeds into broader concerns about systemic delays in delivering justice. The manner in which the government ultimately handles the case is likely to be viewed as an indicator of how it intends to deal with other controversial decisions and episodes from the LDF-ruled era.

At the same time, the delay could provide the CPI(M) with an opportunity to argue that the UDF's investigation has been politically motivated. The Opposition could contend that the SIT was reconstituted by the new government to target officials associated with the previous regime and that the DGP's decision to return the report underscores weaknesses or inconsistencies in the probe.