HC issues interim stay on vigilance proceedings against ADGP Ajith Kumar

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday stayed further proceedings initiated by a special vigilance court in a disproportionate assets complaint against Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) M R Ajith Kumar.

A single bench of Justice A Badharudeen passed the interim order on a plea filed by the ADGP challenging the special court’s August 14 order.

Advertisement

The ADGP Ajith Kumar , currently holding the post of Excise Commissioner, had approached the High Court challenging the order of the Special Vigilance rejecting the clean chit given to him after the Vigilance Enquiry.

The proceedings were launched last year following corruption and hawala allegations leveled against the ADGP by former Nilambur MLA P.V. Anvar and on a private complaint lodged by one Neyyattinkara P. Nagaraj.

“Even though the Special Judge decided to proceed with the complaint by recording statements of the complainant and witnesses, the learned Special Judge did not reach the stage of cognizance. On perusal of the order and as per the settled law, the procedure seems to be illegal prima facie.”

The Court, therefore, felt that this aspect has to be heard in detail.

The case arose from a private complaint filed by Neyyattinkara Nagaraju before the special court, seeking a directive to the vigilance department to register a case against Ajith Kumar under the Prevention of Corruption Act, based on revelations made by P V Anwar, then MLA, regarding Ajith Kumar’s assets.

Pursuant to this, the vigilance submitted a report exonerating Kumar of the allegations. However, the special judge declined to accept the report.The special court observed that the inquiry conducted by the special unit on the directive of the state failed to meet even the basic standards of investigation.

It noted that Kumar’s annual asset statements and income tax returns from 1994 to 2025 had not been collected, and that the raids on his residence and flat yielded no critical documents. Further, there was no valuation certificate for gold, silver, diamonds, or other valuables, and the bank lockers, bank accounts and fixed deposits had not been examined.