By Shankar Raj*
Thiruvananthapuram: That cops in Kerala have close links with goondas and anti-social elements were hitherto just strong rumours, but when a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) was caught pants down in the washroom of a wanted criminal came to light on May 27, 2024, there was hard evidence.
Alappuzha District Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police M G Sabu and three of his team members Sunday night attended a party at dreaded gangster Thammanam Faizal’s residence in Kochi, causing a major embarrassment to the police force.
Following a tip-off that a party was on at Faizal’s house, a police team from Angamaly police station raided the place only to find a Deputy Superintendent of Police hiding in a washroom and his team members having a nice time.
DySP Sabu was due to retire two days later and sources said the party was in his ‘honour’.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who handles home portfolio, has ordered the suspension of Sabu. The home department is taking the police officer’s action seriously as ‘Operation AAG’ to rein in goondas and anti-social elements is going on in the state.
The three others in Sabu’s team have also been suspended and an enquiry has been ordered.
An embarrassed police department that had put up a shamiana to bid farewell to Sabu for his services had to pull it down in haste.
According to police sources, following a recent operation on goonda gangs and anti-social elements across the state, police had heightened surveillance against their activities. As part of the surveillance, Ernakulam Rural Police Chief Vaibhav Saxena received information regarding a party being conducted at the house of Faizal.
“Soon a police team from Angamaly was dispatched to check the house. When the police team reached Faizal’s house, the vehicle of the DySP was found parked there. Seeing the police team, Sabu left the place. Police took the other three police officials to Angamaly police station where their statement was recorded,” the police was quoted in the media.
Sabu is currently working as DySP District at Crime Branch, Alappuzha. Earlier, he had worked with the State Special Branch, the intelligence wing of Kerala Police.
Faizal, a native of Aluva, is notorious for running an extortion racket and a kingpin of anti-social activities in Kochi. He is a close aide of another gangster named Bhai Nazeer. He was later elevated to the number two position in the Nazeer gang. After Nazeer became bedridden, Faizal and Aluva native Manaf are running the gang now.
*Shankar Raj is a former editor of The New Indian Express, Karnataka and Kerala, and writes regularly on current affairs.
