Two DySPs suspended for criminal links return to duty in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Home Ministry has reinstated two DySP officers who were suspended 20 months ago for their unholy links with criminal gangs in Thiruvananthapuram city. Johnson KJ, former Crime Detachment DySP, Thiruvananthapuram rural, and M Prasad, former Vigilance DySP, were reinstated after the oral inquiry against them was completed.

The two officers were suspended by the state police chief in January 2023 after they were caught mediating a financial dispute between two gangsters involved in the real estate sector. The policemen were caught mediating the dispute between Nidhin and Renjith, an associate of notorious gangster Ohm Prakash. The settlement took place at Nidhin’s house in Muttada, where another police officer, Abhilash David, who was then working as an inspector at the railway police station, was also present.

Nidhin, an arch enemy of Ohm Prakash, was injured in an attack by an armed gang on January 8, 2023 in Pattoor. During the investigation into this attack in which Nidhin was hacked, the police got information about the connections that the criminal gangs had with the three policemen. In the subsequent investigation, it was revealed that the two DySPs had deeper connections with the criminal gang and that they regularly visited Nidhin’s house. It was also alleged that the birthday party of the daughter of one of the cops was organised by anti-social elements.

The incidents embarrassed the department and the state police chief decided to take strict action against the guilty officers.