TIRUNELVELI: Based on the findings of a DIG-level inquiry panel regarding alleged collection of bribes for sanctioning of leave to personnel, forging signatures and fake mess bills, the Armed Police administration on Tuesday suspended a sub-inspector and a head constable, and transferred three constables attached to the D Company of the Tamil Nadu Special Police XI Battalion located in Tirunelveli.
Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for the Armed Police Dr R Dhinakaran, who confirmed the suspension, said that most of the allegations were found to be true.
The ADGP named the suspended officers as sub-inspector Ramesh and head constable Balasubramanian. The action comes after more than 20 police personnel submitted compelling evidence, including records pertaining to the alleged acts of corruption, to DIG R Anthony Johnson Jeyapaul, the inquiry officer appointed by the Armed Police administration.
It may be noted that around 90 police personnel are attached to the D Company, which is stationed at different locations across Tirunelveli district as per requirement. The XI Battalion is headquartered in Rajapalayam.
Speaking to TNIE, the personnel alleged that their in-charge, SI Ramesh, had been collecting bribes of `150 to `200 through head constables (Havildars) to sanction a day of both entitled and unauthorised leave.
“I developed a serious illness a few weeks ago and needed emergency leave to undergo treatment. Despite having sufficient leave balance under the EL (earned leave) and CL (casual leave) categories, I was forced to pay a bribe of `4,000 to avail 20 days of leave,” one of the constables alleged.
Most of the charges against administration of D Company were found to be true: ADGP
Another constable claimed that the company administration collected `6,000 and permitted him to avail 30 days of leave for his marriage. “Personnel seeking leave for their wives’ delivery and other personal reasons are also forced to pay bribes.
We have submitted details of the transactions to the inquiry officer,” he added. Constables further alleged that many personnel, including Kishore Kumar and Arunkumar, had availed unaccounted leave for around six months after paying monthly bribes of `20,000.
“For helping to collect bribe, head constables Balasubramanian, Thangaraj and Jayan were given more than 100 days of unaccounted leave in a span of one year,” they added.
Sources said Ramesh stayed in Karnataka for around 180 days and in his native place, Tenkasi district, for another 60 days between July 2025 and June 2026, while the unit’s writer Dineshkumar allegedly forged Ramesh’s signatures in various documents.
“The inquiry officer has reportedly collected the Call Detail Records of Ramesh and other personnel to establish their presence in their native places for several months while they continued to draw salaries. The act of Dineshkumar putting Ramesh’s signature was also confirmed,” the sources claimed.
“The inquiry officer has also seized fake meat-stall bills through which the D Company administration allegedly misappropriated lakhs of rupees allocated for the purchase of mutton.
Misappropriation of funds allotted towards food allowance and the purchase of rice also came to light during the inquiry,” the sources added. However, the police personnel have demanded that the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, instead of the department, conduct the probe.
“Apart from Ramesh, corruption cases should be registered against everyone involved in the alleged scam, including his superior officers in the XI battalion,” they demanded. Speaking to TNIE, Ramesh said that the inquiry was being held based on an anonymous petition.
“Some personnel whom I have reprimanded for not wearing shoes and being late to duty have done this. I deny the allegations levelled against me,” he said. When asked about fake mess bills, he said that the personnel who were purchasing meat in the stalls directly may have made some mistakes.
TNIE’s attempts to get comments from XI Battalion’s Commandant A Janagan went in vain. When contacted, ADGP Dhinakaran said most of the allegations against the D Company administration were found to be true. “On Tuesday, we suspended Ramesh and Balasubramanian and transferred three constables over the charges against them,” he said.
