THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was akin to a Diwali surprise – several IAS officers belonging to the Kerala cadre got “added” to a new WhatsApp group on October 31, labelled ‘Mallu Hindu Officers.’
The WhatsApp group, which included only Hindu officers in the cadre, was created from the phone number used by IAS officer K Gopalakrishnan. It led to immediate objections, with many officers finding it inappropriate and contrary to the secular principles that officers are expected to uphold.
The WhatsApp group was disbanded a day after its creation, with Gopalakrishnan claiming that his phone was hacked. He stated that multiple groups were formed using his contacts without his consent. It is learnt that the officer also filed a police complaint in this regard.
The incident comes on the heels of another high-profile controversy involving senior IPS officer MR Ajith Kumar. Kumar was removed from his position as ADGP (law & order) after it was revealed that he covertly met senior RSS functionaries, allegedly without the knowledge of the LDF govt in Kerala. Though govt has not officially acknowledged this as the reason for his transfer, it was forced to transfer Kumar after even LDF ally CPI took a tough stand on it.
“There are several WhatsApp groups among officers, but a WhatsApp group on religious lines is something new,” a senior officer told TOI, on condition of anonymity. He said WhatsApp groups among officers differentiated between junior and senior officers, are intended for various services and there are others based on different considerations including language, but many of them are largely inactive in nature. A group explicitly created on religious grounds, however, was unprecedented.
A senior intelligence officer, also speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the agency was alerted about the group by a few officers who were added to it. These officers provided evidence, prompting the agency to take the matter seriously and prepare a report. Intelligence agencies, both at the state and Central levels, are now looking into the matter.