After protests within Congress, Keralam govt puts on hold reinstatement of DySP accused of sexual assault in custody

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Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala | Photo Credit: H.VIBHU

The Keralam government has put on hold its decision to reinstate Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) A. Umesh, who had been suspended following allegations of sexual assault of a woman while she was in police custody.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has directed the department to withdraw the reinstatement decision. The move follows strong opposition within the Congress in Kozhikode after news of the officer’s proposed return to service emerged.

Mr. Umesh was serving as Vadakara DySP when he was suspended towards the end of last year. The action followed allegations that he had sexually assaulted a woman who had been taken into police custody. The Home Department had cited alleged misuse of his official position and described the alleged misconduct as a serious offence.

In her statement to the authorities, the woman alleged that the officer had assaulted her on several occasions after she was taken into custody. She also alleged that he had accepted bribes from some of the other persons detained along with her.

The allegations led to disciplinary proceedings against the officer. The government later took a decision to reinstate him, triggering protests among Congress workers and leaders in Kozhikode.

Following the opposition to the move, Kozhikode District Congress Committee president K. Praveen Kumar and several other party leaders met Mr. Chennithala and raised the issue. Sources said the Home Minister subsequently instructed the department to revoke the reinstatement decision.

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