THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A major reshuffle has been engineered in the top ranks of the state police department. T K Vinod Kumar, promoted as DGP has been appointed as vigilance director. Manoj Abraham will be Intelligence ADGP. K Padmakumar has been transferred from the post of jail superintendent to the fire force. Balram Kumar Upadhyay is the new jail superintendent.

Kochi Commissioner Sethuraman has also been transferred. A Akbar will be the new commissioner of Kochi. Sethuraman will be IG north region. Neeraj Kumar Gupta, who was earlier IG North Zone, was given the charge of police headquarters. The government issued an order giving additional charge of police battalion to M R Ajith Kumar. Putta Vimaladitya has also been appointed as Anti-Terrorism Squad DIG.

ADGP Vinod Kumar was elevated to the rank of DGP as DGP Tomin J Thachankary is retiring on July 31. Vinod Kumar, a 1992 batch IPS officer, has service till August 2025. Vinod Kumar, who has received the President’s Police Medal, is a native of Kannur. He holds a Ph.D in Philosophy. He was Kozhikode SP during the Marad riots. He had also served as SP in Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram Rural, Kollam and Palakkad. His wife is Sapna and son Abhilash, an architect. Daughter Anjali is preparing for higher studies with a degree in economics.

Vinod Kumar was given DGP rank as his seniors Harinath Mishra (90 batch) and Ravada Chandrasekhar (91 batch) are on central deputation.