THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Secretary Nalini Netto is likely to be in the dock as the Supreme Court verdict reinstating T.P. Senkumar as state police chief proves Mr Senkumar’s allegation that Ms Netto had filed a false report against him on the Puttingal fire mishap and the Jisha murder cases. While Mr Senkumar alleged manipulations in a file, the SC verdict on Monday said that the court was disturbed by the resurrection of the Puttingal temple tragedy and the Jisha murder case on May 26, 2016 as soon as the present government in Kerala assumed office.
“The so-called public dissatisfaction with regard to the role of the police in the Puttingal tragedy and the Jisha murder case lay dormant for more than one month. Suddenly, these issues resurfaced as soon as the present government assumed office This might perhaps be a coincidence but it might also be politically motivated, as suggested by the learned counsel for the appellant," the court said. According to sources, Ms Netto, who was then additional chief secretary, home, had prepared a nine-page file after the temple tragedy that occurred on April 10, 2016 and the alleged manipulation was done in it. She recommended suspension of the then Kollam city police commissioner, Chathannoor assistant commissioner of police and Paravoor circle-inspector and submitted it to the then home minister Ramesh Chennithala on April 13. At that point, the report did not contain any charge against Mr Senkumar, who was the then state police chief.
Mr Chennithala forwarded the file to then chief minister Oommen Chandy the next day with a remark that the matter need to be discussed with Mr Senkumar. Mr Chandy referred the file to Mr Senkumar and the latter gave his remarks in a special note attached containing nine points. Mr Senkumar suggested that any disciplinary action may be taken after considering the direction of the High Court which was holding a special sitting on the incident on April 14. He had also taken a stand that the police officials alone could not be held responsible and that the revenue officials were also involved in it. Mr Chandy endorsed the opinion and returned it to the then home minister on April 14 itself and no further action came on the file as the Assembly elections were on the cards.
On May 26, a day after Mr Pinarayi Vijayan took over as the Chief Minister, Ms Netto forwarded the file to Mr Vijayan along with 12 pages of charges against Mr Senkumar in connection with the Jisha murder that occurred on April 28 last year and the temple tragedy cases. Mr Senkumar's note as well as page 10 of the file in which Mr Chandy endorsed Mr Senkumar's note were allegedly missing at that point. The fact that the tahasildar was present at the spot during the fireworks was also suppressed in the report against Mr Senkumar, it was alleged. Ms Netto was not available for comments on the allegations.
