By Krishna Dua 
Ex-Kerala DGP Rishiraj Singh in Vande Bharat Row
October 14, 2025—The controversy surrounding former Kerala Director General of Police (DGP) Rishiraj Singh has taken a dramatic turn, with the retired IPS officer demanding a high-level inquiry into what he calls a “malicious media trial” following allegations of theft on a Vande Bharat Express train. The row, which erupted on October 12, 2025, stems from a seemingly innocuous incident where Singh alighted at Ernakulam station to retrieve his forgotten spectacles, only for the train to depart without him, sparking sensational reports accusing him of pilfering bedsheets and towels from the AC coach. While several media outlets have issued unconditional apologies, the damage to Singh’s reputation—a man celebrated for his anti-corruption crusades during his 2012-2015 tenure as DGP—has been profound, reigniting debates on journalistic ethics and the vulnerability of public figures to unverified stories.
Singh, a 1984-batch IPS officer renowned for his fearless probes into illegal mining and power theft scams, has vehemently denied the theft claims, labeling them “fabricated to tarnish my legacy.” In a strongly worded statement released on October 13 via his social media, he recounted the events: “I boarded the Vande Bharat from Thiruvananthapuram, realized my glasses were left behind at Ernakulam, stepped off to fetch them, and the train left. No theft, no drama—just a senior citizen’s forgetfulness exploited for headlines.” The Ernakulam Government Railway Police (GRP), after reviewing CCTV footage, confirmed no items were missing and closed the matter as a “misunderstanding.”
This episode, unfolding amid the Diwali rush, has not only embarrassed the involved media houses—Asianet News and Manorama News, which issued retractions on October 13—but also highlighted the perils of rushed reporting in the 24/7 news cycle. As Singh contemplates legal action under IPC Sections 499 and 500 for defamation, the row serves as a cautionary tale for retirees from high office. In this in-depth 2000-word examination, we timeline the incident, profile Singh’s exemplary career, dissect the allegations, trace the media misfire, detail official clarifications, gauge public and political reactions, explore legal avenues, and ponder implications for media accountability. On October 14, as the Vande Bharat whistle fades into memory, Rishiraj Singh’s row isn’t just a railway mishap—it’s a reckoning for responsible journalism.
Timeline of the Incident: A Simple Slip Turns Sensational
The saga began on the morning of October 12, 2025, when Rishiraj Singh, 65, boarded the Vande Bharat Express (Train No. 22646) from Thiruvananthapuram Central at 6:15 AM, destined for Delhi to attend a family event. The retired DGP, traveling in AC Chair Car Coach B2, seat 23—a window position for scenic views—settled in with a book and his briefcase, the train’s smooth 160 km/h glide a welcome respite. The 2-hour 45-minute journey to Ernakulam Junction proceeded uneventfully, with Singh reviewing notes for an upcoming lecture on police reforms.
At Ernakulam, scheduled for a 2-minute halt at 8:45 AM, Singh alighted briefly to stretch, placing his spectacles on the overhead rack. As the train prepared to depart at 8:47 AM, he realized the glasses were missing and dashed back to the coach, but the guard’s whistle and closing doors sealed his fate—the Vande Bharat pulled out, leaving Singh stranded on the platform. Fellow passenger Rajesh Menon, 45, a Kochi businessman seated nearby, witnessed: “Sir got off to help an elderly lady with luggage, then realized his glasses were left. He ran back, but the train was moving—nothing suspicious.”
By 9:30 AM, the Ernakulam GRP received a call from Traveling Ticket Examiner (TTE) Ramesh Nair, reporting “missing coach items”: two bedsheets, a towel, and a pillowcase, valued at Rs 500. Nair, in his log, noted “a gentleman in formal attire” who alighted and re-boarded briefly, misremembering Singh’s retrieval as theft. At 10:15 AM, Asianet News broke the story with unverified GRP “sources”: “Ex-Kerala DGP Rishiraj Singh Caught Stealing from Vande Bharat—Sheets and Towels Gone.” Manorama News followed at 10:45 AM with “DGP in Theft Drama: Items Missing After Ernakulam Stop.” Timeline: Slip’s spark, sensationalism’s storm.
Rishiraj Singh’s Stellar Career: From Gallantry to Governance
Rishiraj Singh’s career is a chronicle of courage and conviction, a 35-year IPS odyssey that made him Kerala’s most decorated cop. Born on July 15, 1960, in Lucknow to a government servant father and teacher mother, Singh topped the 1983 UPSC CSE, opting for the Kerala cadre. His early days as ASP in Wayanad (1985) were legendary: Leading “Operation Green Shield” against sandalwood poachers, he arrested 50 in a week, earning the President’s Gallantry Medal.
As SP Thrissur (1990), Singh dismantled a Rs 100 crore hawala racket, recovering Rs 40 crore. IGP Kozhikode (2005), he cracked the “Golden Triangle” drug cartel, seizing 200 kg heroin. DGP tenure (2012-2015) was tumultuous: “Operation Clean Sweep” exposed Rs 300 crore illegal mining in Kasaragod, implicating ministers, leading to his 2014 transfer amid LDF accusations of “vendetta.” Post-retirement (2019), Singh authored Shadows in Uniform, critiquing political meddling, and advised anti-corruption NGOs.
Career: Gallantry’s glow, governance’s grit.
Anatomy of the Allegations: From Miscommunication to Media Mayhem
The allegations’ anatomy is a cascade of miscommunication and media mischief. TTE Nair’s 9:30 AM report to GRP: “Items missing from B2—passenger in suit alighted oddly.” GRP Sub-Inspector Suresh Kumar logged it as “theft inquiry,” but no FIR until 11 AM, after Asianet’s call.
Asianet’s 10:15 AM bulletin, based on “GRP insider,” claimed “DGP stole sheets,” with a blurred CCTV frame of Singh alighted. Manorama amplified at 10:45 AM: “Ex-DGP in Vande Bharat Theft—GRP Probe On.” By 11:30 AM, #RishirajTheft trended with 1 lakh tweets, users like @KeralaCrimeWatch: “From raids to robbery—karma?”
Singh’s 3 PM video: “Forgot glasses, returned—train left. No theft, lies.” Anatomy: Miscommunication’s mishmash, mayhem’s media.
Media Apologies: Retractions and Regret
By October 13 noon, apologies cascaded. Asianet at 12:30 PM: “Unverified report on Rishiraj Singh retracted—editorial error, deepest regrets.” Manorama at 1 PM: “Story on ex-DGP based on incomplete info—apologies, investigation closed.”
Singh: “Apologies accepted, but harm done—seek accountability.” Apologies: Retraction’s rush, regret’s ripple.
Official Investigations: GRP Closure and Railway Reassurance
GRP’s October 13 10 AM closure: CCTV showed Singh retrieving glasses, no items missing. SP S. Suresh Babu: “Misunderstanding from TTE—no case.”
Railway Board’s 11 AM statement via Shilpi Agarwal: “Vande Bharat amenities complimentary—no theft. Incident isolated, audits enhanced.” Investigations: Closure’s calm, reassurance’s reach.
Public and Political Reactions: Outrage to Ovation
Public reaction was a whirlwind of outrage turning to ovation. #JusticeForRishiraj 2 lakh tweets by October 13, @KeralaVoice: “Media’s the real thief—Singh’s service shamed.” Outrage: 70% posts slamming sensationalism.
Ovation: Supporters shared 2014 mining bust clips, 3 million views. Political: CM Pinarayi Vijayan: “False reporting undermines trust—support Singh.” Reactions: Outrage’s outpour, ovation’s oasis.
Legal Ramifications: Defamation Suit and Ethics Echo
Singh filed defamation suit against Asianet and Manorama on October 13 in Ernakulam District Court under IPC 499/500, seeking Rs 5 crore damages. Advocate Biju Kutty: “Unverified malice harmed honor—precedent for restraint.”
Editors Guild October 13: “Condemn unverified broadcasts—self-regulation strengthened.” Ramifications: Suit’s sting, ethics’ echo.
Implications for Retired Public Servants: Media’s Magnifying Glass
The row spotlights retired servants’ media glare, from Singh’s 2015 transfer to Kiran Bedi’s 2020 smears. Implications: Glass’s glare, servants’ siege.
Conclusion
October 14, 2025, reflects on Rishiraj Singh’s Vande Bharat row, a glasses gaffe ginned to grand theft. From Ernakulam’s exit to ethics’ echo, the saga stings. As apologies abate and suits stir, Singh stands steadfast—supercop’s saga, media’s misfire. In Kerala’s corridors, the controversy calls for caution’s crown—truth’s triumph over tale’s tangle