Kerala govt gives clean chit to ADGP P Vijayan; Punyam Poonkavanam project to continue

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has cleared Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) P. Vijayan of all allegations related to the Punyam Poonkavanam Project at Sabarimala, acting on a Kerala High Court directive and an inquiry conducted by the Additional Chief Secretary (Home). The government has also ordered that the community policing initiative will continue.

In an order issued in compliance with the Kerala High Court's judgment, the government said no evidence had emerged during the inquiry to establish any misuse of authority, misconduct or mala fide action on the part of Vijayan, who served as the project's nodal officer.

The Punyam Poonkavanam Project, launched in 2011, is a community policing initiative aimed at keeping Sannidhanam, Pampa and surrounding areas clean with the voluntary participation of devotees, the Travancore Devaswom Board and other stakeholders.

Vijayan, who led the project, was appointed its nodal officer by the Kerala High Court in 2015 and has continued in that role since then.

The case arose after allegations surfaced that a project coordinator in Erumeli collected funds. Following a report by the Sabarimala Special Commissioner, the Kerala High Court initiated suo motu proceedings and, in April 2023, directed the Travancore Devaswom Board and the Chief Police Coordinator for Sabarimala to ensure that no funds were collected from devotees or through sponsorship in connection with the project.

Subsequently, the High Court directed the then Chief Police Coordinator and Additional Director General of Police, MR Ajith Kumar, to conduct first a preliminary inquiry and later a detailed inquiry. The detailed report was submitted to the court in a sealed cover.

Following the High Court's direction to the state government to take further action based on that report, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home & Vigilance) conducted a separate inquiry, including personal hearings with Vijayan and an examination of his written explanations.

The government order stated, "No material has emerged to indicate any misuse of authority, misconduct, or mala fide action on his part."

Based on the findings, the government decided to exonerate Vijayan of all allegations contained in the inquiry report submitted by the then Chief Police Coordinator.