Thiruvananthapuram: In a major reshuffle at the IPS level, the Kerala government has transferred 11 senior police officers, including district police chiefs and key officials in specialised wings. Among the notable transfers is that of Sasidharan S, who was investigating the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer Shekhar Kumar in a bribery case. Sasidharan, who was serving as Superintendent of Police, Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), Ernakulam Range, has been posted as Assistant Director (Administration) at the Kerala Police Academy (KEPA).

The transfer comes a day after VACB officials in Kochi questioned ED Assistant Director Shekhar Kumar in connection with a bribery case. Kumar was earlier transferred to Shillong in June reshuffle. According to the FIR, he and others had sought a ₹2 crore bribe from a Kollam-based businessman to 'settle' a case.

District-level changes
The shake-up has also resulted in new appointments in several districts:

• Vishnu Pradeep, the Idukki SP, is now the District Police Chief of Kollam Rural.
• Sabu Mathew, the current Kollam Rural SP, has been posted as Idukki SP.
• V G Vinod Kumar, the Pathanamthitta SP, has been moved to Police Headquarters as Assistant Inspector General (Law & Order).
• R Anand, currently DCP, VIP Security, has been posted as the new SP of Pathanamthitta.

Other key appointments:

• Dr Arul R B Krishna, SP Railways, is now DCP, VIP Security and will also hold additional charge as DIG, Armed Police Battalions.
• Ramesh Kumar P N, Principal, PTC, has taken over as SP, VACB, Ernakulam Range, replacing Sasidharan S.
• P Vahid, Assistant Director (Administration), KEPA, has been appointed Commandant, India Reserve Battalion.
• Mohammad Nadeemuddin, previously Commandant, IRB, will now head the Kerala Armed Women Police Battalion.
• Shahansha K S, Commandant, SAP Battalion, is the new SP, Railways.
• Yogesh Mandhaiya, Commandant, Kerala Armed Women Police Battalion, has been shifted to head the Special Armed Police Battalion.