In a sudden reversal of its earlier decision, the Tamil Nadu government revoked the suspension of ‘encounter specialist’ S. Velladurai just hours after the order was issued, allowing him to retire. However, the revised order includes a significant financial penalty, withholding Rs 5 lakh from his death-cum-retirement gratuity based on the recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission.
Velladurai, who most recently served as Additional Superintendent of Police at the District Crime Records Bureau in Tiruvannamalai, has been involved in numerous high-profile encounter killings throughout his career. Among these, the most notable was the 2004 killing of notorious forest brigand Veerappan by the special task force, in which Velladurai played a crucial role.
The initial suspension order, issued a day before Velladurai’s scheduled retirement, cited a pending inquiry into a custodial death case from 2013. The case involved the death of a suspect, Ramar alias Kokki Kumar, while Velladurai was serving as DSP in Sivaganga district. Kumar, who had allegedly stolen Rs 500, was reportedly injured after falling into a pit during his apprehension by the police and later succumbed to his injuries. However, suspicions and allegations of foul play surrounded the incident, given Kumar’s connections to M. Prabhu and Bharathi, suspects in the murder of sub-inspector Alwin Sudhan. Both Prabhu and Bharathi were killed in a police encounter on November 30, 2012.
Sub-inspector Alwin Sudhan’s death occurred during an attack on policemen at the Maruthupandiar Jayanthi event on October 27, 2012, further complicating the narrative around Kumar’s custodial death.
The Tamil Nadu Home Department’s decision to suspend Velladurai just before his retirement raised eyebrows, especially given his extensive involvement in encounters against notorious criminals. The subsequent revocation of the suspension appears to be a concession to his years of service and his notable contributions to the state’s law enforcement efforts. However, the financial penalty imposed indicates the government’s acknowledgment of the serious nature of the allegations and the need for accountability.