Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has ordered transfer of 161 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs) across the state. Among them, DySP N Muralidharan, who led the arrest of former Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, has been posted to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) covering Kannur and Kasaragod. Another DySP who had publicly clashed with MLA Mohammed Shiyas in Kochi has also been transferred unexpectedly.

The government said the reshuffle was part of the process of reposting officers who had been shifted to other districts during the election period. However, after allegations surfaced that the transfers were politically motivated, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala responded that he could not "examine the horoscope of every officer." Critics pointed out that while many officers were posted back to their home districts, DySPs associated with politically sensitive cases were assigned to unexpected locations.

Muralidharan has been transferred from Kunnamkulam in Thrissur to the Kasaragod EOW. He had led the midnight arrest of Rahul Mamkootathil from a hotel in Palakkad in connection with a rape case. He had earlier been shifted from Palakkad to Thrissur as part of election duty arrangements. Muralidharan also has a notable track record, having arrested Chenthamara, accused in the Nenmara double murder case, and prepared the charge sheet that ultimately led to a death sentence for the accused.

DySP AJ Thomas, who had publicly confronted MLA Mohammed Shiyas, has also been transferred unexpectedly. During the election period, he had been posted to the Special Branch in Kottayam. Instead of being reassigned to Ernakulam, he has now been posted to the Crime Branch in Palakkad.

Thomas and Shiyas had previously clashed over the MLA's detention during protests in Kothamangalam. Meanwhile, DySP Sibi Thomas, who is also a well-known actor recognised for his appearance in the Malayalam film Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum, has been transferred from Kasaragod to the Kerala Police Academy in Thrissur.