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The Kerala High Court on Tuesday (August 18) directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Home & Vigilance Department, Minhaj Alam, IAS, to personally appear before it over the alleged non-compliance with its earlier directions in a complaint seeking a Vigilance enquiry against DGP S. Sreejith, IPS.

Justice A. Badharudeen passed the order in a writ petition challenging a compliance report submitted by the Additional Chief Secretary, Home & Vigilance Department, which had concluded that the petitioner's allegations against senior police officer S. Sreejith, IPS, were "false and vexatious."

The petitioner had alleged that S. Sreejith, IPS visited Dubai by availing casual leave without taking permission to go abroad, to participate in the inauguration of a private enterprise. It was further alleged that enterprise inaugurated was a concern of S. Sreejith.

Earlier, in another petition [WP(Crl.) No. 113/2026], the Court had directed an enquiry into the complaint. Pursuant to the direction, the Additional Chief Secretary issued a notice requiring the petitioner to appear for a hearing. The petitioner, however, contended that he was being required to participate in a joint hearing in the presence of Sreejith, the officer against whom the allegations had been made.

The petitioner declined to attend the hearing, stating that requiring him to present his allegations in the presence of the officer concerned was unfair. He nevertheless expressed his willingness to appear independently before the Vigilance authorities and produce documents in support of his allegations.

It is petitioner's case that despite his absence, the Government subsequently submitted a compliance report concluding that the allegations were false and vexatious.

The High Court had earlier observed that where serious allegations are raised against an individual, requiring the complainant to participate in a hearing in the presence of the person against whom the allegations are made cannot be recognised as a fair procedure. It had accordingly directed the Additional Chief Secretary to afford the petitioner an independent personal hearing, in the absence of Sreejith, before proceeding further.

Today, it was submitted that the authorities had filed a petition seeking extension of time to comply with the earlier judgment. It was also brought to the Court's notice that Sreejith had been promoted without the earlier judgment being considered.

In view of the alleged non-compliance with its directions, the Court directed the Additional Chief Secretary to personally appear before it on Thursday.

Notably, the Court had recently questioned the hurried promotion of S. Sreejith IPS as DGP amid corruption allegations. 

Case Title: Dipin Edavana v State of Kerala

Case No: WP(Crl.) 1110/ 2026

Counsel for Petitioner: K.K. Dheerendrakrishnan, N.P. Asha

Counsel for Respondents: Roy Thomas Muvattupuzha (Sr. GP), K. Arjun Venugopal (CGC

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