Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police Biju K. Stephen, who investigated the controversial Facebook post by civil police officer (CPO) Umesh Vallikkunnu against former District Police Chief S. Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar on hartal-related violence, submitted his report to Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) P.B. Rajeev on Friday.

The report will now be forwarded to the State Police Chief (SPC). According to police sources, the report said the CPO had violated the social media policy of the Home Department. Moreover, he did not follow the guidelines issued by the State Police Chief.

The Crime Branch DySP was asked to probe the matter as the CPO was part of his team.

The inquiry was ordered by the State Police Chief as the post criticising Mr. Mahesh Kumar had been widely circulated on social media drawing criticism against the police and their alleged failure in checking hartal-related violence on S.M. Street in the city.

It was on last Saturday the CPO came up with his post against the senior officer. He had alleged that Mr. Mahesh Kumar had failed to foresee chances of clashes on S.M. Street and, therefore, could not prevent them.

In the post, the CPO had held the District Police Chief accountable for the poor deployment of security personnel at Valiyangadi where traders had defied the hartal call and opened shops. There were only two police men to offer protection to merchants, he had said.

Mr. Mahesh Kumar was transferred out of Kozhikode reportedly following complaints from the public for his alleged failure in bringing the situation under control.