A Circle Inspector of Kerala Police booked for gangrape and other offences was dismissed from service under the provisions of Section 86 (disqualification of those involved in serious criminal offences) of the Kerala Police Act.
PR Sunu, Station House Officer (SHO) of Beypore Coastal Police, was terminated from service on Monday. In a statement, the Kerala Police said that Sunu’s termination from service was in accordance with the government’s directions to take action against the criminals within the police force.
This is the first time in the history of the Kerala Police that an officer has been removed from service under the provisions of section 86 of the Kerala Police Act. As per the section, police personnel involved in criminal cases should be suspended from service. The rule also stipulates that they should be dismissed from service if found guilty.
Ahead of the action, Sunu was summoned to give his statement. He, however, did not turn up, stating that he was on an Ayurveda treatment. Later, his statement was taken through an online session.
The State Police Chief Anil Kanth had sent a letter to the Home Secretary recommending Sunu’s dismissal. Though Sunu approached the State Administrative Tribunal asking to stop the proceedings, he couldn’t secure a favourable ruling
Sunu was arrested on 13 November by the Thrikkakara Police based on a complaint filed by a woman who alleged that he was part of a group of men who had sexually assaulted her.
It is to be noted that Sunu had earlier been arrested in relation to an assault case in 2021and was placed under suspension for six months. He has faced departmental action 15 times and has faced six suspensions. The state police chief had laid out all these as grounds for his removal from service.