Thiruvananthapuram: Agriculture Department Special Secretary N Prasanth has been suspended for allegedly making remarks that tarnished the reputation of the administrative system, while Industries Department Director K Gopalakrishnan has been accused of attempting to incite communal divisions among IAS officers, as per the suspension report. The Chief Minister had ordered suspension of both the IAS officers on the basis of the Chief Secretary’s report over their interdisciplinary activities.

Breach of rules

The report outlined Prasanth’s alleged breach of rules in detail, highlighting that his accusations against senior civil service officer Jayathilak violated service regulations. This became a subject of debate in the media and on social media, leading to further controversies and, ultimately, tarnishing the state’s administrative reputation. The report stated that Prasanth’s comments disrupted unity among civil service officers, bringing disrepute to the state’s administrative system.

The report noted, "Prasanth’s statements were inappropriate for an IAS officer and violated multiple provisions of the All India Service Conduct Rules, resulting in his suspension.” 

Allegations of Misconduct

K Gopalakrishnan’s suspension report also included serious findings. It mentioned that he attempted to create communal rifts among IAS officers. His explanations regarding his claims of phone hacking were found to be false, and his actions violated civil service regulations, leading to his suspension, as clearly outlined in the report.

Meanwhile, despite the report’s findings, Prashant maintained that he was the target of a conspiracy and is considering legal action to challenge his suspension.