Tue Nov 12 08:04:51 UTC 2024: ## Kerala IAS Officer Suspended for Social Media Criticism, Accuses Senior Officer of “Psychopathic” Behavior

**Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala:** N Prashanth, a popular Kerala IAS officer known as “Collector Bro” for his social media engagement, has been suspended from service for publicly criticizing a senior officer. The suspension comes amidst accusations of political motives and a whirlwind of controversy surrounding the officer’s online activity and his recent public outburst against Additional Chief Secretary A Jayathilak.

Prashanth, a 2007-batch IAS officer, has a substantial online following with over 3 lakh followers on Facebook and 50,000 on Instagram. His social media activity, while previously lauded for its accessibility and innovative initiatives, has now landed him in hot water.

The trigger for Prashanth’s suspension was his public criticism of Jayathilak, whom he described as a “psychopath” and accused of orchestrating false news reports against him. Prashanth alleges that Jayathilak ruined the lives of subordinates who did not follow his instructions. These accusations stemmed from a media report claiming that files related to “Unnathi”, a welfare scheme for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, went missing during Prashanth’s tenure as its CEO. He vehemently denied these allegations and accused Jayathilak of fabricating the news.

Following the suspension, Prashanth defended his actions, claiming he was a “whistleblower” exposing wrongdoing and stating that his criticism was aimed at individual behavior, not government policies. He also asserted that he was not solely driven by his role as an IAS officer and had other interests.

However, the controversy extends beyond Prashanth’s online tirade. CPM leader and former Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma has alleged that Prashanth was involved in a political conspiracy against her. She accused him of orchestrating a fabricated document to discredit her and a deep-sea trawler deal during her tenure.

The Congress-led UDF has added fuel to the fire, claiming that the current political climate under the Left regime is leading to infighting among government officers.

This incident highlights the delicate balance between free speech and professional conduct for government officials, particularly in the digital age. It remains to be seen how this controversial case will unfold and whether Prashanth’s claims of being a whistleblower will be vindicated.

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