THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former DGP Raman Srivastava has been appointed as adviser to the Chief Minister on police. The decision has raised many eyebrows as Mr Srivastava was a known loyalist of Congress leader K. Karunkaran. According to sources, the decision to appoint Mr Srivastava was taken by the Chief Minister in the wake of a series of lapses on the part of the police. Mr Srivastava would hold the rank of chief secretary, but will not take any policy decision.
Meanwhile, sources said that the Chief Minister himself had handpicked him as his adviser and the decision came as a shock even to those close to him. The decision has also not gone down well with in the police force, it is learnt. Mr Vijayan told reporters that it was always good to have advisers. A 1973-batch IPS officier, Mr Srivastava was appointed as DGP by the Oommen Chandy-led UDF government in 2005. When the LDF succeeded, there were strong speculations that he may be shifted. But he continued as DGP till 2008.
He later went on Central Deputation as special secretary (internal security) in home ministry. He later retired from service as Border Security Force Director General. Mr Srivastava’s association with K. Karunakaran was widely debated when the former’s alleged involvement in the ISRO espionage case surfaced. Karunakaran, who was the then Chief Minister, even had to resign owing to political compulsions following allegations that he was trying to protest Mr Srivastava.
