Internal probe faults Museum police for hosting ED attack case accused during official Onam celebrations in Keralam

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The police had arrested the accused in June in connection with the vandalisation of vehicles carrying ED officials as they exited after a raid on Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan’s house in Thiruvananthapuram on May 27. | Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran

An internal inquiry has reportedly found that the Museum police here had violated the code of official conduct, compromised law enforcement’s political neutrality and subverted the department’s ethical obligations to the criminal justice system by “permitting” the accused in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attack case, all Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] activists, to participate in the in-house Onam celebrations organised by station personnel on Saturday (August 22, 2026).

Social media reels of I.P. Binu, CPI(M)’s former Corporation councillor and prime accused in the case, making merry with other suspects in front of the station house had gone viral.

Notably, the accused wore a white dhoti and dark blue shirt, the same festival attire worn by police officers for the celebratory occasion. They rode the traditional Onam swing in the police station precincts, and participated, with apparent gusto, in the traditional Chenda Melam ensemble.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s social media handles spotlighted the “political theatre” in front of the station house as the latest evidence of brazen “Congress-CPI(M) collusion”.

The episode became a major source of embarrassment for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) government. It also raised awkward questions about police impartiality. The incident brought up allegations of law enforcement collusion with suspects in criminal cases, and wilful jurisdictional oversight by supervisory officers in the district.

Consequently, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala ordered State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar to investigate the episode.

Officials said the preliminary intelligence probe reportedly revealed that “left-leaning” Kerala Police Officers Association (KPOA) officials had invited the suspects for the station house Onam festivities.

They said the prefactory probe also reportedly flagged violations of the Kerala Police Act and Kerala Police Manual. They suggested further action under the Kerala Police Departmental Enquiries (Punishment and Appeal) Rules, including a referral for a Vigilance inquiry.

Mr. Binu and other suspects in the case arrived at the police station in compliance with a bail-related court order requiring them to mark their presence once a week to confirm they remained within the jurisdiction and had not absconded.

The police had arrested the accused in June in connection with the vandalisation of vehicles carrying ED officials as they exited after a raid on Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan’s house in Thiruvananthapuram on May 27.

The Kerala High Court had granted the accused bail under stringent conditions.