Kerala police form SIT to probe PSC exam irregularity allegations

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 9 (PTI) The Kerala police on Thursday constituted a three-member SIT to conduct a comprehensive probe into allegations of irregularities in examinations conducted by the PSC. The move came a day after the Cabinet decided to hand over the probe in the matter to the crime branch. An order issued by State Police Chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar said that, in view of the gravity of the allegations and the importance of ensuring a prompt inquiry, “it is decided to constitute a Special Investigation Team with immediate effect, under the chairmanship of S Ajeetha Begum, Inspector General of Police, Economic Offences Wing Headquarters, Thiruvananthapuram.” It further said that the SIT would include Zacharia Mathew, Superintendent of Police, NRI Cell, Police Headquarters, and Ajayanath G, Deputy SP, crime branch headquarters, “for conducting a detailed and expeditious investigation into the allegations”. The order said that the team would function under the direct supervision of the additional director general of police, crime branch, and would expedite the investigation into the matter and submit a fortnightly progress report to the PHQ without fail. “The additional director general of police, crime branch, may co-opt other officers or personnel into the SIT as may be considered necessary for ensuring the effective and sustained investigation of the case,” it said. Earlier in the day, Youth Congress activists barged into the premises of the Kerala PSC headquarters, protesting against the alleged irregularities in various examinations conducted by the recruitment agency. The protest came a day after Chief Minister V D Satheesan announced that the police crime branch would probe allegations of irregularities in examinations conducted by the Public Service Commission for various government posts and services in the state. He had said that there were complaints of irregularities in the conduct of the Kerala Administrative Service examinations by the PSC. “We are not questioning the functioning of the PSC or blaming it, but the allegations are serious, and they need to be investigated,” Satheesan had said. PTI HMP SSK