The Kerala government on Thursday issued an order cancelling the reinstatement of MS Shibu, the former sub inspector of Gandhi Nagar police station in Kottayam district. He was suspended on charges of failure to discharge duties and his alleged involvement in events that lead to the murder of Kevin last May.
Kevin’s family had met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan asking him to revoke the reinstatement of the police official.
Before Kevin was found dead at a canal near Thenmala in Kollam district last May, the family had given a complaint that he was missing. But it was later alleged that MS Shibu delayed the probe on the missing complaint of Kevin. In February 2019, he was issued a termination notice by the Kochi Range IG Vijay Sakhare. However, Shibu was reinstated to Kottayam district as sub inspector on the order issued by Kochi Range IG on May 27. Thereafter, another order was issued on May 29 transferring Shibu to Idukki district downgrading him as the junior-most sub inspector in the state.
This reinstatement now stands cancelled after the additional Chief Secretary issued an order for the government on Thursday. “Changing the decision to terminate MS Shibu and reinstating back to service by downgrading him in the seniority list is not compatible with the grave fault he made in discharging duties,” states the order.
According to the order, Shibu’s reinstatement order has been cancelled according to the Kerala Police Departmental Inquiries, Punishment and Appeal rule 36 (A). “As per the rule, the state government has reviewed the order of Kochi Range IG to reinstate him and he remains suspended from service,” it says.
Twenty-three-year-old Kevin P Joseph was abducted during the wee hours of May 27 last year after he registered his marriage with Neenu. The couple had applied to register their marriage under the Special Marriage Act at Kottayam district on May 25. His body was found floating in a canal at Chaliyekkara in Kollam district on May 28, 2018.
Based on Neenu’s complaint, a case was filed against her family, who were opposed to their marriage. Kevin is a Dalit Christian and the girl’s father is a Christian, while her mother is a Muslim. Neenu’s brother Shanu Chacko and father Chacko are the prime and fifth accused respectively in the murder case. The Kottayam Additional District Sessions Court termed Kevin’s murder an ‘honour killing’.