M.R. Ajith Kumar appointed Excise Commissioner

The State government transferred Additional Director General of Police, Armed Police Battalions, M.R. Ajith Kumar from the police force and appointed him as the new Excise Commissioner on Monday. He has been appointed to the post in place of Mahipal Yadav, who has been sanctioned a medical leave extension.

The decision comes in the wake of the controversy over Mr. Kumar’s use of a tractor to travel in Sabarimala. The Kerala High Court had taken a dim view of the incident.

While the officer justified his action by claiming that he boarded the tractor since he was tired while climbing the trekking path, the explanation failed to convince higher-ups in the police dispensation as well as the government. A report submitted by State Police Chief Ravada A. Chandrasekhar to the Home Secretary had flagged lapses on the part of the officer, whose transfer as Excise Commissioner is viewed as an indication of the government’s disapproval of his actions.