Venkatesh is now ADGP (law & order)

Thiruvananthapuram: State govt has appointed H Venkatesh as additional director general of police (law and order), following the elevation of Manoj Abraham as director general of police (DGP).
Manoj Abraham, a 1994-batch IPS officer, is now posted as DGP and head of fire and rescue services department after the retirement of K Padmakumar. He previously served as ADGP (law and order).
Venkatesh, a 1998-batch IPS officer, was leading the crime branch before this posting. His name was selected over other contenders, including ADGP MR Ajith Kumar, who was also considered for the post.
Ajith Kumar, although cleared of charges related to amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income, remains under probe for his alleged role in the Thrissur Pooram sabotage case. He is also facing charges for making defamatory remarks against ADGP (intelligence) P Vijayan, which may have weighed against his appointment to the law and order post.
In contrast, Venkatesh is known for his clean track record and has largely stayed away from controversies throughout his career. He previously served in key investigative agencies, including the vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (VACB) and central bureau of investigation (CBI). His experience and reputation for integrity are seen as key factors behind govt's decision.