Inspector General of Police & driver suspended for drunk driving in Kerala

Kerala’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has suspended the Inspector General of Police EJ Jayaraj, and his driver, for allegedly drinking and driving. The CM ordered the suspension after disciplinary action was suggested against Mr. Jayaraj by Loknath Behera, the state police chief of Kerala.

What exactly led to this?

EJ Jayaraj, I.P.S., was stopped by Anchal police at Kottarakkara in Kollam district on the 25th of October, 2017, allegedly for reckless driving at 5 PM in the evening. Both the driver, Santosh, and IPS officer were said to be so drunk that they were unable to even come out of the vehicle when stopped by local police officials.

The ensuing medical examination proved that the IPS officer and the driver were both drunk. Jayaraj was serving as IGP, Crimes, North Zone at the Crime Branch, at the time of this incident. He was said to be returning from the house of one Sunil at Kottarakara.

The Kerala State Government’s suspension order has severely castigates Mr. Jayaraj for his behavior,

The driver, also under the influence of liquor, was unable to drive and the local people reportedly interfered in the matter. Jayaraj was also quite drunk and was not in control of himself and became a spectacle in public. Hence, the state police chief requested for appropriate disciplinary action against Jayaraj for his misconduct in misbehaving in a drunken stupor in public. After the government examined this in detail and based on the report it was found to be an official misconduct and violation of the All India Services Rules and therefore it was decided to place Jayaraj under suspension, pending disciplinary action against him. 

Needless to say, driving after consuming alcohol is an absolute no-no, and when cops do it, it’s even more deplorable as they’re the ones who need to set an example and bring offenders to book. Driving drunk causes accidents and is a major cause of road deaths in India.

Via TheNewsMinute with image courtesy Mathrubhumi