Almost a year after he was shunted out, TP Senkumar back as Kerala DGP

'Do not expect a confrontation with the government'.
Almost a year after he was shunted out, TP Senkumar back as Kerala DGP
Almost a year after he was shunted out, TP Senkumar back as Kerala DGP
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Almost a year after Director General of Police TP Senkumar was shown the door by the LDF government in Kerala, the senior officer re-assumed office on Saturday. 

Senkumar's reinstatement comes as a result of a year-long legal battle against the state government. After Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan signed the official order reinstating Senkumar late on Friday evening, Senkumar assumed office a little past 4.30 pm on Saturday. 

Speaking to reporters after assuming office, Senkumar said that the women's safety would be the department's priority. 

"The police should be more people-friendly and women's safety would be our priority. Do not expect a confrontation with the government," he said, while addressing a press meet. 

The Kerala state government was forced to reinstate Senkumar, after the officer moved the Supreme Court in February this year against his untimely removal. The apex court had on April 24 pronounced Senkumar's removal as "unfair" and ordered the state government to reinstate the top cop. 

Senkumar was appointed as the DGP on May 22, 2015 and his tenure should have continued till May 21, 2017, if not for his untimely removal. In doing so, the government had cited poor performance of the officer in handling two major cases. The government's argument was that there were lapses in probing the sensational Jisha muder case and Puttingal firework tragedy. However, Senkumar had alleged that his removal was a case of vendetta by the Left government, since he investigated the sensational TP Chandrasekharan murder case in which a few CPI (M) members were convicted. 

Days after the SC order, Senkumar had again approached the apex court against the state government's delay in reinstating him. He initiated contempt of court proceedings against Chief Secretary Nalini Netto for delay in implementing the court order. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on last Sunday said that the court order cannot be implemented in a day. Two days later he told the Assembly that the government is duty bound to carry out the court order. 

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