Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan instructed Director General of Police Ravada Chandrasekhar to take immediate action against the officer involved.
Published Dec 19, 2025 | 12:12 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 19, 2025 | 12:12 PM
In another case of Kerala police atrocity coming to light, CCTV footage has revealed a pregnant woman being physically assaulted inside a police station by a senior officer.
Synopsis: CCTV footage, publicised after the high court intervention, revealed a pregnant woman being physically assaulted inside a police station by a senior officer. The visuals show Inspector KG Prathap Chandran, former Station House Officer of Ernakulam North Police Station, pushing and slapping NJ Shaimol, while her twin children and husband watched.
In another case of police atrocity coming to light in Kerala, CCTV footage revealed a pregnant woman being physically assaulted inside a police station by a senior officer.
The shocking visuals, which emerged nearly 18 months after the incident, show Inspector KG Prathap Chandran, then the Station House Officer (SHO) of Ernakulam North Police Station, pushing and slapping NJ Shaimol, while her twin children and husband watched.
The footage, obtained following a Kerala High Court order, contradicts the police’s earlier version of events and has prompted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to intervene personally, directing the state police to initiate strict action.
The incident traces back to the night of 20 June 2024, when Benjo Baby, who runs a lodge near Ernakulam North Railway Station, recorded officers in plainclothes allegedly assaulting two individuals in public.
Benjo recalled that he noticed some activity near the lodge, and when the police showed up, he began recording on his phone from a public area, unaware of the full context.
Following the recording, Benjo was arrested, allegedly assaulted in custody, and jailed for five days under fabricated charges.
When Shaimol, who was pregnant at the time, rushed to the police station with their twin children, she was assaulted by Inspector Prathap Chandran. The newly released CCTV footage shows her being pushed in the chest and slapped, while other officers intervened to restrain the inspector.
The visuals also capture women officers taking the children from Shaimol’s hands, contradicting police claims that she had thrown her children on the floor.
Immediately after the incident, police registered multiple cases against Shaimol, alleging that she had obstructed official duties, damaged the police station’s glass door, and endangered her children. Shaimol called these claims false, emphasising that the CCTV footage was the only proof of her innocence.
“A false case was registered against me, accusing me of attacking the station, harming my children, and injuring the inspector. The case is still ongoing. These visuals are our only evidence,” she told the media.
The couple had attempted to retrieve the footage through the Right to Information (RTI) Act but faced repeated delays and obstruction.
The breakthrough came after judicial intervention. On 28 June 2024, the Kerala High Court ordered the police to preserve CCTV recordings from 18 June to 20 June. Later, on 1 December 2025, Justice VG Arun directed the High Court Registry to provide a cloned copy of the footage to the couple upon application.
Following the release of the CCTV visuals, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan personally intervened and instructed Director General of Police (DGP) Ravada Chandrasekhar to take immediate action against the officer involved.
The DGP has requested a detailed report from the Additional DGP in charge of law and order to ensure a thorough investigation. The couple welcomed the move.
“We were in a situation where we couldn’t face society. It took weeks for our family to recover,” Benjo said. Shaimol added, “I spent nearly a year trying to get the footage. The trauma is still there.”
Inspector Prathap Chandran responded to the footage, claiming that the woman tried to create a terrifying atmosphere in the police station. He alleged that she attempted to throw children and manhandle female officers, and that his response was reflexive.
On Friday, 19 December, Prathapa Chandran, who was posted as SHO of Aroor Police Station in Alappuzha district, was suspended in connection with the incident.
The suspension was ordered by Southern Range Inspector General (IG) Shyam Sundar — the former Kochi City Police Commissioner who was in charge of the city when the incident occurred — following a report submitted by Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladithya.
Meanwhile, the incident has reignited discussions on police accountability and the treatment of vulnerable individuals, particularly pregnant women, in police custody or during station visits.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
