Six police personnel attached to the Kazhakkoottam Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram have been suspended after visuals surfaced showing them consuming alcohol while on duty, triggering embarrassment for the Kerala Police and swift disciplinary action from senior officials.
The suspended officers have also been directed to undergo mandatory good conduct training, officials confirmed.
The action followed the circulation of a video clip that showed the policemen, dressed in civil clothes, drinking alcohol inside a parked car located directly in front of the Kazhakkoottam police station. A preliminary inquiry conducted immediately after the footage emerged termed the incident a serious lapse and “completely unacceptable” behaviour for serving police personnel.
According to the inquiry report, the officers were on duty at the time, significantly aggravating the gravity of the misconduct. The incident reportedly took place around 11 am on Monday.
During the inquiry, the officers claimed they had stepped out of the station stating they were heading to attend a wedding function. However, officials noted that consuming alcohol during duty hours and in a public place amounted to gross indiscipline and a clear violation of service rules.
The preliminary inquiry was conducted by the Kazhakkoottam Assistant Commissioner of Police, who submitted a detailed report to the City Police Commissioner. Based on the findings, suspension orders were issued without delay.
Sources said the visuals were recorded by a member of the public who noticed the unusual conduct and shared the footage with senior police officials, leading to immediate intervention by the department’s leadership. Further departmental proceedings are expected following a detailed inquiry.
