CHENNAI: A serving deputy superintendent of police (DSP) was arrested on Monday after a Kancheepuram court ordered his judicial custody for failing to act on a caste atrocity complaint filed more than a month ago.
DSP M. Sankar Ganesh was remanded in custody till September 22 by the special court for SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act cases.
The arrest followed dramatic scenes at the court premises. When the judge directed police to take Ganesh into custody, some officers hesitated. The judge then offered his own vehicle to escort the DSP to the sub-jail, but Ganesh fled to another car. He returned about 20 minutes later in a police vehicle and was taken for a medical check-up before being lodged in custody.
The case stems from a July 25 altercation in Walajabad, where complainant Murugan accused bakery owner Shivakumar of supplying poor-quality cake. A brawl ensued, and Murugan filed a complaint under the SC/ST Act. An FIR was registered only on August 20.
Principal district and sessions judge Pa U. Chemmal noted that the DSP failed to arrest the accused or take any follow-up action, despite repeated court warnings. The judge also criticised Kancheepuram SP K. Shanmugham for not reviewing or monitoring the case.
Calling the DSP’s conduct “wilful neglect” of duty under the SC/ST Act, the court said it was obliged to take preventive and punitive steps to safeguard the victim. The Walajabad police were directed to inform the relatives of the accused and submit a compliance report.
