THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Museum Police will record the statement of former state police chief T P Senkumar on Monday in connection with the case registered against him for allegedly forging documents to draw full remuneration after he went on leave for eight months. Senkumar was booked by the police on Saturday, based on a complaint lodged by former Corporation councillor A J Sukarno.
Investigating officer K E Baiju told Express the proceedings to record the statement of the former DGP is under way and it will be taken on Monday itself. “We have already taken the statement of the complainant,” Baiju said. “Hence we need to record the statement of Senkumar too. Further action will be taken after this.”
Senkumar has been booked under non-bailable charges. Sources said his arrest is likely to be recorded like in the previous case against him for allegedly spreading communal hatred during an interview with Samakalika Malayalam weekly.The police had registered an FIR against Senkumar based on the instructions of state police chief Loknath Behera. Earlier, Chief Secretary Nalini Netto had recommended the DGP to file a case against his predecessor and to initiate a comprehensive probe. The government gave the recommendations following the report submitted by Vigilance after a preliminary investigation by the Vigilance DySP Bijimon of the special investigation unit in Thiruvananthapuram.
The report had recommended an inquiry by the crime branch or local police. In the complaint, it is said Senkumar had accepted remuneration for his leave by forging medical certificates and prescriptions while he was the director general of the Institute of Management in Governance (IMG). Senkumar is accused of taking Rs 8 lakh from the government as salary while he was on an eight-month leave. Along with his letter, Senkumar allegedly produced eight medical fitness certificates from Dr V K Ajit Kumar of Government Ayurveda College.
Senkumar was removed as the state police chief in June last year as soon as the LDF came to power. He had applied for leave on personal grounds on June 7 last year with half-salary and later submitted a request letter stating the same reason to the Chief Secretary. He had continued to request the same for the next eight months.
Senkumar had rejoined as IMG DG after eight months and informed the government he was undergoing treatment for some ailment. But the Vigilance had found he spent the time at Annamanada in Thrissur and at Ernakulam instead of consulting a doctor at the ayurveda centre. This was proved by tracing Senkumar’s mobile phone signals. It was also found the retired officer was given only two medicines from the hospital during the eight-month period.