Extra Onam clothes, police association chief’s invitation: New details emerge on IP Binu’s Onam fete at Museum station

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Branch has begun an inquiry into the Onam celebrations held at the Museum police station, in which accused in the case of assaulting Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials reportedly joined police personnel in celebrations, including playing the traditional chenda. The inquiry is being conducted by Special Branch Assistant Commissioner Suresh Babu on the direction of ADGP P. Vijayan following the controversy over the incident.

The matter came to light after a video showing former CPM councillor and one of the accused in the ED attack case, I.P. Binu, using a swing arranged in front of the station was posted on social media and began circulating widely. The accused were reportedly wearing blue shirts and mundus similar to those worn by police personnel during the celebration.
According to the Special Branch report, the accused attended the celebration following an invitation from Museum SHO R. Prashanth, who is also the state president of the Police Officers Association. There are indications that some of the accused were invited over the phone, and the police are expected to examine the calls as part of the inquiry.
The officer in charge of the station has reportedly told the Special Branch that the lapse was on the part of police personnel assigned to guard and general diary duties. Police personnel could face disciplinary action, including suspension, if any violation of rules is established.

The Onam celebration was held in the morning. Around 20 accused reportedly posed for photographs in front of the pookkalam arranged outside the station. Binu and others used the swing after it was decorated with a garland, while the accused also played the chenda and took part in the celebrations.

The accused had spent more than 70 days in jail and were released recently. They reportedly arrived at the station to sign as required under their bail conditions. Several of them left without having the Onam feast amid fears that their participation in the celebration would trigger controversy.

The police had earlier maintained that Binu had not been invited to the celebration and had arrived at the station only to sign in connection with the case. The latest details from the Special Branch inquiry indicate that the question of whether the accused were invited is now being examined.

The matching attire worn by the accused and police personnel has also come under scrutiny. Four additional sets of clothes were reportedly purchased from a prominent clothing shop in Palayam, over and above the number required for police personnel. One of the accused reportedly told the Special Branch that the Onam outfit had been given to him as a gift.
Binu, meanwhile, has reportedly said that wearing a blue shirt was coincidental.

SHO faces fresh controversy

The incident has also brought renewed attention to controversies involving SHO R. Prashanth. He was transferred to the Thrissur Crime Branch following earlier controversies and was reportedly preparing to take charge there when the latest incident occurred.
BJP state general secretary Anoop Antony alleged that the SHO had purchased Onam clothes for the accused and criticised the practice of turning police stations into venues for celebrations involving people accused in criminal cases.