Thiruvananthapuram: Even 10 days after appointing a new police chief, the state government has yet to send a clearance certificate for DGP Yogesh Gupta to the Centre, effectively blocking his move to the Central deputation. With the Chief Minister currently in the US, any further decision is likely to be delayed until his return.

Though Yogesh Gupta was removed from the post of Vigilance director, he had been preparing to take up a role in a Central investigative agency. The Union Home Ministry had sought clearance certificates from senior officials in various states to prepare a panel for appointments to key positions such as the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI. However, the Kerala government has refused to issue clearance for Yogesh Gupta, reportedly due to past friction during his Vigilance tenure.

Despite repeated reminders from the Centre, the state has not changed its stance. It is also believed that Yogesh Gupta had faced pressure to withdraw from the interim panel formed to appoint the new police chief.

Sources suggest that certain actions taken by Gupta during his time as Vigilance director are the primary reason the government has withheld the clearance certificate for over two months.