Kerala DGP denies flouting leave norms

Kerala DGP K S Balasubramaniam refuted reports that he had undertaken an official overseas trip flouting leave norms.

The police chief also wrote to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy expressing his concern over the reports that are being dubbed as part of a power tussle between the DGP and Chief Secretary E K Bharat Bhushan.

Following reports on Balasubramaniam’s communication with the chief minister, the Chief Secretary clarified here that there were no differences between him and the DGP.

In a statement issued here late on Friday, Balasubramaniam said he had attended an international police symposium in Sofia in Bulgaria between July 27 and 31 after obtaining all necessary permissions including clearance from the Union Home Department.

The police chief said he had taken casual leave between July 27 and August 5 and submitted an application for leave on July 25.

It was reported that the Chief Secretary recommended consideration of three of the nine days as absence without leave.

“There is a possibility that the report was planted by people with vested interests who are launching a misinformation campaign to tarnish my reputation. That information in this connection was leaked even before the file concerned was seen by the Home Minister is a serious lapse and action should be initiated against the official who did it,” the police chief said in his letter to the chief minister.

The Chief Secretary said in a statement that reports on his differences with the DGP were baseless. “The formal process of validating the DGP’s leave is on. It’s unfortunate that normal administrative procedures are being interpreted as controversies,” Bhushan said.

The Chief Secretary has been cornered in recent weeks over differences with some of the state’s senior IAS officials and alleged undervaluation of his declared assets.