CPI(M) Kannur district secretary K.K. Ragesh defends Kerala DGP appointment

Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Kannur district secretary K.K. Ragesh said on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) that the Kerala government does not have full discretionary powers to appoint the Director General of Police (DGP) as the process is governed by established rules and procedures. He said the government would have made the decision after evaluating multiple factors.

Addressing concerns surrounding the appointment of Ravada A. Chandrasekhar as the new Kerala DGP, Mr. Ragesh said the officer had no involvement in the Koothuparamba firing “conspiracy.” He had joined as Assistant Superintendent of Police then without prior familiarity with the region, said Mr. Ragesh.

He stressed that the officer was new in service when the Koothuparamba firing happened and that the commission which investigated the incident found no conspiracy involving him.

“Only the findings of the commission are relevant, not unsubstantiated allegations,” Mr. Ragesh said.

Dismissing claims that senior CPI(M) leader P. Jayarajan had taken a contradictory stance on the issue, he accused the media of “distorting” Mr. Jayarajan’s statement.

Mr. Ragesh noted that Mr. Chandrasekhar had served in Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthpuarm during the tenures of former Chief Ministers V.S. Achuthanandan and E.K. Nayanar, suggesting there was “no political bias” in his postings.