The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Tuesday (September 30, 2025) directed the Kerala government to forward the vigilance status report of senior IPS officer Yogesh Gupta (IPS:1993:KL) to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs within five days.

The tribunal came down heavily on the state government, calling the five-month delay in submitting the report—despite repeated reminders from the Centre—“inordinate” and “unjustifiable.”

Gupta, currently serving as DGP, Fire and Rescue Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards, had approached the tribunal alleging that the delay in forwarding his vigilance report was preventing him from being considered for Director General-level posts in the Centre under the Central Deputation Reserve (CDR).

He pointed out that the State Police Chief had submitted all relevant details to the government as early as May 6, yet no action was taken. Even a grievance petition filed through the Chief Minister’s grievance portal yielded no response.

The Kerala government argued that Gupta was facing a confidential inquiry over decisions taken during his tenure as Director of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB), and therefore the report could not be issued. However, the tribunal noted that the state had not disclosed even the basic details of the inquiry and that the explanation lacked merit.

Significantly, the bench observed that a vigilance report had already cleared Gupta of any pending inquiries when he was shortlisted for the post of State Police Chief.

“The vigilance status report is a factual document, and the pendency of an inquiry cannot be a valid ground to withhold it,” the tribunal said, directing the state to send the report to the Centre “expeditiously and in complete form” within five working days.

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