Kottayam/Kochi: Kottayam cop M S Shibu , who was suspended over dereliction of duty in the Kevin murder case, has been demoted to the rank of junior SI and posted in Idukki.
Ernakulam range IG Vijay Sakare issued the order on Wednesday and also instructed that Shibu should not be put in charge of law and order.
Kottayam youth Kevin P Joseph was abducted in May 2018 by a gang allegedly hired by his fiancee Neenu's family and he was found dead in a river in Kollam district a day later. Neenu’s father and brother are accused in the sensational murder case. Action was also taken against Shibu, the sub-inspector of the Gandhinagar police station in Kottayam, for delaying the probe into the missing case.
However, an order reinstating Shibu in the police force was issued, triggering a controversy. Then the new order of demotion was issued.
The IG has also asked the Idukki district police chief not to give any important position to Shibu.
Though serious dereliction of duty was found during a departmental enquiry, authorities pointed out that a termination order would not stand the scrutiny of law. Hence, he was demoted.
Shibu misses out on service benefits
Shibu has now lost 10 years of service. The 2008-batch officer was set to be promoted to circle inspector. He would lose out on increment till now and his salary scale would now be that of a fresher.
Demotion after protests
Shibu, who was suspended for delaying investigation on the day Kevin was abducted, was served the termination notice. However, during a hearing held as part of the procedure, the IG decided to reinstate him. Even as the trial in the suspected case of honour killing was on, the erring officer was also posted in the same district. He was reinstated on Kevin's first death anniversary, leading to widespread protests.
Kevin's family complains to CM
After the SI was reinstated in service, Kevin's family met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his office and gave a complaint. Kevin's father Joseph said that the CM had assured them that action would be taken after an enquiry.
Kevin's sister Kripa, mother Mary and Joseph's brother Beiji had also accompanied Joseph.
While alleging that Kevin was murdered due to the laxity from the part of the SI, Joseph said, "Reinstating the SI is government's 'gift' to us on Kevin's first death anniversary.”
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala too said reinstating the SI was part of the move to scuttle the probe.
Neenu reacts after SI’s reinstatement
‘I would not have lost Kevin had the then SI at Gandhi Nagar Station MS Shibu actively investigated on the complaint on Kevin’s abduction,’ the victim’s wife Neenu said. She was reacting to the reinstatement of the SI after he was given notice of termination following an internal probe.
‘He might have had such influence to get reinstated even before trial in the case is complete. I saw him first along with Kevin.'
The SI spoke in favour of the other party even when Kevin showed him a copy of our official wedding document. He took no action despite seeing me being dragged away. SI Shibu was the first cop to get a complaint on Kevin’s abduction. Even then he wanted to know if there is a change in my stand.
We sat in the station from morning to evening. But he did not bother to investigate. He said he was busy with chief minister’s event in district. They could not have taken Kevin out of Kottayam had there been a vehicle check that day. Reinstating such an officer will only bring more catastrophes. It is an injustice to people.
SI back, ASI terminated
Even though the SI was reinstated, ASI E M Biju, who belongs to a Congress-backed outfit, was terminated from service.
It was alleged that the CPM leaderships of Kottayam and Kollam districts had intervened in the case. It was also alleged that Shibu was reinstated ignoring the district police chief's recommendation and the probe report.
IG’s explanation
The IG's note had then said that Shibu was taken back as his explanation was found to be satisfactory. "As he had other important duties, M S Shibu was not able to give his full attention to the kidnapping case of Kevin. The DySP report has also found that Shibu had shown laxity in the case. This was backed by the district police chief too. Then it was decided to dismiss the cop from the force and he was called in to serve the termination notice. However, Shibu's explanation on not being able to fully concentrate on the probe has been partially accepted. And therefore, instead of termination, he has been demoted," said the IG's report.
The other important tasks mentioned in the IG's repot was the Chief Minister's visit to Kottayam Medical College. However, this was not spelled out in the report. Nor did it mention the allegations raised against the SI by Kevin's relatives.
Though the police were informed about the incident around 7 am on May 27, the day Kevin was abducted, no action was taken. This was confirmed by night officer ES Biju and driver Ajaykumar. But those statements were also concealed. Even after senior officers asked to carry out a probe in the Thenmala region by afternoon, the investigation was started by only 8 pm. Shibu was accused of delaying the probe and for not following the senior officer's order.
The police explanation was that when the night officer is on duty, the SI who is at home cannot be held responsible.
On May 25, Neenu's father Chacko had complained to the SI that his daughter, who was living with Kevin, should be sent back home. The SI then called Neenu and Kevin to the station and asked her to go back with to her parents' house. It was also alleged that Shibu asked Chacko to forcefully take Neenu back home. These complaints also were not probed.
However, night officer Biju, accused of taking bribe from the gang of assailants, was terminated from service.
Did not know of Shibu's reinstatement: DGP
Meanwhile, DGP Loknath Behera has said that he came to know of Shibu's reinstatement into the police force through media reports.
The DGP said that he would check with Kottayam district police chief before commenting on the issue.
Bribery charge statement demanded as evidence
Meanwhile, the prosecution in Kevin murder case has sought to consider as evidence prime accused Sanu Chacko and accused-3 Ishaan’s confidential statements made in the Erattupetta Magistrate Court.
The two had given their statements in court in a bribe case involving former ASI TM Biju and civil police officer Ajayakumar of Gandhi Nagar Station. The accused had said they were in Mannanam the day Kevin was abducted. In an inspection at Mannanam, the cops had found Sanu’s car’s number plate smudged with mud. The duo bribed ASI Biju with Rs 2,000 to escape legalities. A departmental inquiry and action against the cops followed.
A copy of their confidential statements, not included in the murder case charge sheet, was obtained from Erattupetta Court and produced yesterday. The prosecution sought to include this in evidence proving the accused’s presence in Kottayam on the said date. However, the defendants opposed this.
Judicial magistrates from Erattupetta, Pala and Changanassery will be cross examined today. Police photographer Georgekutty, who snapped images of the cars used in the act and the spot in Chaliyakkara where Kevin’s body was found; AMVIs Dinesh and Pradeep, who inspected the cars; Dolly George, witness to accused’s fingerprint collection; Crime Branch CI VV Ippe, witness to filing of FIR; and Dr Radhakrishnan, who attended to accused-11’s wounds were cross examined yesterday. All of them gave statements in favour of prosecution.
