In a startling revelation, M. Sundaresan, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in Mayiladuthurai, has alleged that he faced harassment, humiliation, and repeated transfers at the hands of senior officers after submitting a report to the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC). The report involved accusations of custodial torture of a former MDMK party worker and an electrician in connection with the murder of retired inspector Kasturi Parthasarathy in Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu.
Sundaresan, a 1996-batch IPS officer currently posted in the Mayiladuthurai District Prohibition Department, claimed his official vehicle was confiscated, leaving him with no choice but to walk to work. He believes this action was retribution for refusing to provide an escort vehicle for DMK Minister Meyyanathan Siva V. He also linked his alleged mistreatment to his rejection of bribes.
Speaking to the media, he said, “On the 5th of July, 2025, my driver, a person named Vadivel, was also in the Bolero vehicle. What he did was, in this district, AR SI Senthil kumar, said that the vehicle was immediately needed for the Honorable Minister Meyyanathan for his escort duty. I said, ‘According to protocol, it’s not possible to give it.’ Secondly, ‘I am on intensive raid. I cannot give this vehicle. If you want this vehicle, you pass an order. I’ll give the vehicle,’ I told him. For that, AR SI told to Vadivel that, ‘I will talk to your DSP.’ And he also said, ‘You can talk to the DSP.’ Immediately, that AR SI spoke to me, and I refused. After two hours, I, who am from the 1996 batch, I’m a direct SI from the 96th batch, a 2008’s direct SI, a eighth batch SP Inspector, he tells me, ‘Wherever you are, stay there and send the vehicle immediately.’ I said, ‘You cannot impose this order on me. Only if higher officials tell me, then I can send the vehicle. Without orders, I cannot send it.’ As soon as I said that, within the next 10 minutes, on the mic, Nagaraj from the Control Room, he orders me. He says, ‘Immediately, you go for Tiruchendur security duty.’ I thought, Right, Murugan is calling, and I told it on the mic and went for the security duty on the 5th. I traveled in that same vehicle the same vehicle they asked me for. For almost 400 to 450 kilometers, for three days (5th, 6th, 7th). After that, while I was still there, an order came from the SP’s office. ‘You immediately need to go for Thiruvarur security duty for the Honorable CM.’ Immediately, I reported to the headquarters. That night, I called the Control Room and said, ‘I have reported here. I am giving it at 2 AM on the morning of the 8th’. All the records I am stating are in GD (General Diary), everything is there. Nothing can be hidden or suppressed. All the police personnel and officers in this district know what kind of injustice is happening here.”
Naming specific officials, he said, “The main reasons for this are SP Stalin IPS and Inspector Special Branch Balachandar. We can even accept the SP as an officer, but this Balachandar, he tortures not only me but many officers, prevents them from working, and creates such problems.”
He continued narrating his plight, saying, “Regarding the vehicle, I finished the Thiruvarur duty on the 8th, 9th, 10th. On the 10th night, as soon as I returned, I didn’t even get down at home. They immediately said they needed the vehicle. Even then, I asked, ‘Who needs this vehicle?’ ‘Honorable Minister Meyyanathan needs the vehicle, sir.’ That ARSI spoke to me, requesting. Even then I said, ‘This vehicle cannot be used for this purpose. It’s not in protocol.’ I was in SP Security, at the highest level in SP. This is not in the security protocol. I said I cannot give the vehicle. Because of repeated requests, I gave the vehicle to the AR SI. But it did not go to the Honorable Minister. They took this vehicle and kept it aside. From the 10th, I had no vehicle. On the 11th, I informed the District SP, ‘Sir, I don’t have a vehicle.’ Everything has a record. Everything is on my mobile phone, recorded, each and everything. I’m telling you another thing: In these eight months, not once has the SP spoken properly to me on the phone. What’s the reason for that, only God knows. But on the 10th, they took the vehicle at night. Until noon on the 11th, the vehicle didn’t come. I informed him that the vehicle hadn’t come. They gave me a vehicle that couldn’t even be driven on the road. What do I say about that vehicle, sir? ‘This vehicle cannot be used,’ my driver, Mani Bharathi, calls and tells me. ‘Sir, this vehicle cannot be used on the road,’ he says. ‘It’s okay, higher officials have given orders, bring the vehicle,’ I said. The vehicle came. As soon as the vehicle came, that night, the Control Room and the District Night Rounds were using that vehicle. The driver says, ‘I can’t drive the vehicle.’ The driver somehow pushed and drove the vehicle, and after a little distance, near the checkpost, at Kollidam, the vehicle stopped. Smoke was coming from the vehicle. I told the Control Room, told the AR SI, no action is taken. It’s not that the vehicle didn’t run that day, the vehicle runs, but it’s not in good condition to drive on the road. If smoke comes from the vehicle, how can one sit and go? Isn’t a driver’s life important to you? Maybe my life is not important to you, but my life is very important to my family. Is it important or not, sir? It is important, my life is very important. So I said, ‘This vehicle cannot be driven.’ Nevertheless, I finished my night rounds until morning with a clear conscience. The next day, I brought that vehicle to the Control Room and parked it. And I informed the SP, ‘Sir, the vehicle cannot be driven, sir. Nothing can be done with the vehicle.’ Immediately, what did he say? He didn’t say any reply, not a single reply. I just continued with my work. I just had to do my duty. I went on a bike, checked everything. This is also known to ADGP Enforcement sir. On the 12th, I went on a bike and checked, put photos, all that is known. But what does this administration say? What does SP sir say? ‘We took this vehicle for CM’s security duty.’ You asked me for this vehicle for Minister Meyyanathan, but then you said you took it for CM’s security duty, and without giving me any vehicle, I moved around on a bike. Everyone knows. I wore a helmet, in uniform, I went on a bike. My driver was there. After that, I was put as a pilot in the contingency convoy for the CM. That means, for the Honorable CM, there will be a separate vehicle, a pilot. This is for night times, if he goes for any emergency, a contingency pilot. I called on the mic and said, ‘Please record it. I have informed the officers on WhatsApp. I don’t have a vehicle, please give me a vehicle.’ The vehicle that was already with me was taken away. Now they are denying me. Sir, they say that he (SP) didn’t snatch the vehicle now, that it’s still with him. Then how did the Tiruchi vehicle come to me? Pay attention everyone. They give me a vehicle from Tiruchi for escort duty that night, and for the whole night and the next morning, I was in that convoy. After driving for two days, they took that vehicle back. After taking the vehicle, that officer, our District Superintendent, he didn’t give me any vehicle. This morning, I’m even calling and asking on mic. ‘Sir, my vehicle hasn’t come. I have to walk to the office. I can’t go on a bike. Traveling 150 km on a bike gives me back pain.’ There’s no response. No response from the Control Room when I called on the mic. I walked.”
He explicitly added two higher officials before concluding, “Two high officials: one, the intelligence officer, IG Senthilvel IPS. The other officer, ADGP Law and Order David Aseervatham. Even saying their names makes me feel uncomfortable.”
He added, “It’s very difficult in the police. It’s very difficult. How can honest officers like us work? Yesterday, the SP Mayiladuthurai called me to his room and spoke to me. Pointing his (middle) finger like this, he said, ‘this finger should bend? If it doesn’t, they will break it.’ How? this a challenge to honesty?”
Sundaresan didn’t stop there. He accused top officials of financial misconduct, asserting that both the Superintendent of Police (SP) and an Inspector in the department were collecting bribes under the pretense of forming ‘special teams’. He called for a full investigation by higher authorities into the actions of these officials, stating, “I’m prepared to face any inquiry.”
Since taking charge of the prohibition unit in November last year, Sundaresan has spearheaded a crackdown on illegal liquor sales shutting down 23 unauthorized TASMAC bars and booking over 1,200 offenders, resulting in the imprisonment of more than 700 individuals. His efforts have been widely appreciated by the public, strengthening suspicions that he is being targeted for carrying out his duties with integrity.
The case has sparked a political controversy. The BJP accused the ruling DMK government of targeting Sundaresan for being honest and unafraid to expose systemic issues. They pointed to the removal of his official vehicle and his sudden transfer as punitive measures.
The AIADMK also criticized the DMK, questioning the treatment of the officer and demanding the immediate restoration of his vehicle and dignity. They urged the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police to ensure Sundaresan is protected from political retaliation.
BJP state president K. Annamalai weighed in on the issue via X (formerly Twitter), alleging that Sundaresan’s transfer was direct retaliation for exposing failings within the police force under the current DMK regime.
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