Click to play videoThiruvananthapuram (Kerala): The issue of the suspension and consequent reinstatement of IGP Rishi Raj Singh of the state's crime branch has exposed not just chinks in the police establishment but also the differences within the ruling CPM's leadership.
Kerela Chief Minister, V S Achuthananthan, hauled up the Director General of Police Raman Srivastava for stopping IGP Rishi Raj Singh of the Anti-Piracy Wing from raiding the Riyan Music studio and asked him to step aside.
The studio belongs to the wife of IGP Tomin Thachankery.
"Stopping an officer in his line of duty will only bring disrepute to the police force and the government. The DGP has no answer for taking such a strange decision. So I have asked him to reinstate the investigation officer with immediate effect," Achuthanandan said.
And all that DGP Srivastava had to say later was, "The Chief Minsiter has asked me to reinstate the officer to his post and that will be done very soon."
However, these comments were enough to kick off speculation about the state CPI-M's bitter internal politics for it is rumoured that it was a phone call from the CPI-M state headquarters that forced the DGP to take action in the first place.
V S Achuthanathan's order in the absence of Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, a strong man from the opposite Pinnarayi group, is once again seen as evidence of a rift between the Kerala CM and Pinarayi's group.
The DGP's action is undoubtedly proving to be an embarrassment to the state police, but what is more significant is V S Achthanathan's immediate action which once again brings to surface the divisions in the top leadership of the CPI-M in Kerala.
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