The Additional Chief Secretary Home & Vigilance Department, Minhaj Alam, IAS, informed the Kerala High Court on Thursday (20 August) that no Vigilance Investigation is warranted against DGP S. Sreejith, IPS as of now.

The submissions were made before Justice A. Badharudeen who had directed for the personal appearance of the Additional Chief Secretary over the alleged non-compliance with its earlier directions in a complaint seeking a Vigilance enquiry against S. Sreejith.

The Bench was considering a writ petition challenging a compliance report submitted by the Vigilance Department, which had concluded that the petitioner's allegations against senior police officer S. Sreejith, IPS, were "false and vexatious."

The petitioner 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.

The Court had earlier, in another writ petition directed an enquiry into the complaint. Even though a notice was issued by the Additional Chief Secretary requiring the petition to appear for hearing, the petitioner declined to attend the meeting contending that he was being required to participate in a joint hearing in the presence of S. Sreejith, the officer against whom the allegation had been made.

He had expressed his willingness to appear independently before the concerned authorities, but the Government submitted a report concluding that the allegations were false and vexatious.

The High Court had earlier directed the Additional Chief Secretary to afford the petitioner an independent personal hearing, in the absence of Sreejith, before proceeding further, noting that requiring the 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.

When the non-compliance of the directions was brought to the attention of the Court, the Additional Chief Secretary was directed to personally appear before the Court.

Today, the Additional Chief Secretary appeared in person and submitted that he had complied with the order and he found that vigilance investigation is not warranted as of now.

The Court then closed the matter with liberty to petitioner to move accordingly in terms of the order as per law.

The Court however, cautioned the officers of his responsibilities:

"You must be responsible, unless otherwise, you may keep time to personally appear before Court on many occasions and also you will be under contempt of court proceedings for not complying with the orders. Hereinafter, once you want anything, you must file the petition, don't ask your clerk or peon to file a petition before High Court. If I notice anything .. I shall impose a cost also." Court orally said.

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)