Some saffron zealots took the entire bureaucracy in Kerala by storm on Diwali by creating a WhatsApp group, adding several Hindu IAS officers belonging to the Kerala cadre and labelling it as ‘Mallu Hindu Officers.’ The move left the IAS officers aghast as the WhatsApp group was created from the phone number of IAS officer K Gopalakrishnan (IAS:2013:KL) and included only Hindu officers. The misdeed evoked sharp and immediate objections as many officers found it inappropriate and contrary to the secular credentials that bureaucrats are supposed to uphold.
The WhatsApp group was disbanded a day after its creation after Gopalakrishnan claimed that his phone was hacked. He later said that multiple groups were formed using his contacts without his consent. He is reported to have filed a police complaint and intelligence agencies are investigating the matter.
The incident sparked a furore as it came close on the heels of another high-profile controversy over senior IPS officer MR Ajithkumar’s (IPS:1995:KL) alleged covert meeting with RSS functionaries leading to his removal from the post of ADGP (law & order). Though the ruling Left front government did not officially acknowledge it, the reason for his transfer is an open secret.
