Under secretary suspended in Kerala over letter which aided KAAPA accused BJP councillor secure leave

“The Local Self Government Department on Monday suspended Chithra P.Arunima, a Kerala Administrative Service (KAS) officer who is currently an under secretary in the department, over a letter which was used by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Thiruvananthapuram Corporation administration to secure six months of leave to BJP councillor R. Sugathan, who was arrested under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA) and is currently lodged at the high-security correctional facility at Viyyur Central Prison in Thrissur. Officials from Panchayat Minister K.M.Shaji's office confirmed to The Hindu the decision to suspend the officer. Mr.Shaji had told media persons on Sunday that it was unfortunate that a letter which went through his department had aided a “criminal” to secure