A.P. Shoukathali is District Police Chief (Kozhikode city)

Alappuzha Crime Branch Police Chief AP Shoukathali has been appointed as the new District Police Chief of Kozhikode city.

The government has also created an old cadre post as Kozhikode City Police Commissioner for a period of one year with effect from June 11. As part of the reshuffle, the current District Police Chief of Kozhikode city, Merin Joseph, has been transferred and posted as District Police Chief of Kozhikode Rural police district.

Mr. Shoukathali, who received the IPS award in 2015, has investigated several high-profile cases at the state and national level. He recently headed a special investigation team probing the alleged attack on Indian Youth Congress activists in Alappuzha in 2023 by police officers, including those attached to former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s security team.

He joined the duty as Assistant Inspector in 1995. His contributions to investigative policing earned him the Home Office’s Award for Excellence in criminal investigation. Mr. Shoukathali has also served the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

During his tenure as Deputy Superintendent of Police in Thalassery, he was part of a special team that tracked down and arrested the key suspects in the TP Chandrasekharan murder case. He was also part of the investigation team investigating the sensational Chelembra bank robbery case in Malappuram district in early 2008. He also played a key role in the investigation into the 2020 gold smuggling case.