Kerala High Court Seeks Files On Appointment Of Bodybuilders Shinu Chova & Chitharesh Natesan As Police Inspectors Amid 'Backdoor Entry' Claims
K. Salma Jennath
29 Jun 2026 4:35 PM IST
The Kerala High Court on Monday (June 29) directed the Principal Secretary to State's Home Department to produce the entire files leading to the appointment of sportspersons Shinu Chova and Chitharesh Natesan in the police department.
Justice A. Badharudeen was considering a plea filed by Advocate K.M. Shajahan alleging corruption and political influence during the LDF government's tenure in their appointments as armed police inspectors.
When the matter came up today, the petitioner's counsel pointed out the possibility of destruction or manipulation of records and prayed for an interim order to keep the same intact in order to address the grievance.
Allowing the same, the Court ordered:
“there shall be a direction to the 9th respondent – Principal Secretary to Home Department, to produce the entire files…in a sealed cover before this Court for verification and further steps.”
The case is posted to July 3 for further steps and granting time to the public prosecutor to get instructions.
As per the plea, there is inaction on the part of the State in conducting a vigilance enquiry into the corruption allegations made against top officials, including Home Secretary Bishwanath Sinha, Ravada Chandrasekhar IPS and Sreejith I.P.S, with respect to the “unusual” appointments of bodybuilder Chova and Natesan as inspectors.
“The present Home Minister has intervened to keep in abeyance the Government's action of appointing bodybuilder Shinu Chova and Chitharesh Natesan as Inspectors against the norms during the previous government. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has directed to stop Shinu Chova's training. He has also directed the State Police Chief to submit an urgent report on the complaints and but no Vigilance Enquiry is ordered… There were allegations that the appointment of the two, who failed the physical fitness test, was based on their party affiliation. The appointment was made without taking this into account through the Public Service Commission,” the plea states.
It is further stated that the appointments cannot be made by the state government without directing the PSC to call for a special drive of sportspersons by issuing notifications and granting opportunity to all sports persons.
The petition is moved by Advocates V. Sethunath, Thomas Abraham and Sreeganesh U.
Case No: WP(Crl.) 968/2026
Case Title: Adv. K.M. Shajahan v. State of Kerala and Ors.
