Turf war in Tamil Nadu police?

If whispers doing rounds among the top police officers in Tamil Nadu are of any indication, a serious turf war is on in the Khakhi circles.  The recent shuffle in the intelligence wing this September seems to be the prime reason behind this turf war .

Many were surprised when T.Rajendran, was posted as ADGP intelligence despite his strong links with the DMK leadership during the previous regime. But the next day, K.Ramanujam, was posted as DGP intelligence...

All of a sudden on 29 September 2011 T.Rajendran was shunted out from the post and AG.Pon.Manickavel was posted as DIG Intelligence... when the intelligence wing already had a DIG Intelligence…Sathyamurthy.  The induction of Pon.Manickavel resulted in Sathyamurthy being completely sidelined.  K.N.Sathyamurthy who was looking after regular intelligence, including political intelligence was allotted with the task of looking after extremists and special division, which is considered as a post without charm.

From day  one, Pon.Manickavel started asserting himself in the intelligence wing, say sources.   Seeing Sathyamurthy as a threat to his unfettered  powers, Pon.Manickavel engineered his transfer out of intelligence wing and made him DIG, Madurai. Well It did not stop there...in an aim to bring Chennai City too under his control Pon.Manickavel made the next move.   R.Nallasivam, who was Joint Commissioner of Police, Intelligence in Chennai city was transferred out.   The post of JC, IS, Chennai city which was hitherto DC, IS was created by the new government expecting heavy workload following the merger of suburban commissionerate with Chennai.   

Following the transfer of Nallasivam, the newly created post of JC.IS has now been downgraded to that of the level of Additional Deputy Commissioner and filled up by a Pon.Manickavel loyalist.

Sources in the Khakhi department say... Pon. Manickavel who is deter-mined to retain the post and to be in the good books of Amma has been over enthusiastic.  After the arrival of Pon.Manickavel, the responsibility of sending Daily intelligence reports to the CM has also been taken over by Pon.Manickavel him. DGP Ramanujam, who is a man least concerned by power struggles never objected to Pon.Manickavel sending the reports directly to CM.

Whispers doing rounds that cannot be ignored in TN's intelligence circles is that Pon.Manickavel is taking instructions from M.Natarajan, Sources also say that Natarajan, who is popularly called as MN wants to identify officers in the intelligence wing belonging to a particular and powerful community.   

The buzz in the department is that MN had made it clear to Pon.Manickavel that people belonging to a particular community in Tamil Nadu police should be given important postings preferably in Chennai city.  Sources say MN has chosen IPS officers Chockalingam, Masanamuthu and Pon.Manickavel with this task and they are termed as the ‘deadly trio’ among police brass.

MN also desires to make P.Sivanandi as IG intelligence and that is the buzz doing rounds in the corridors of DGP HQ.  But given the attitude of Pon.Manickavel it is likely to be objected by him. 

Also Jayashree, IPS, who was relegated to an insignificant post by the present government for her closeness with Pottu Suresh also would be assigned with a good post,as she belongs to that community.

Many senior officers are very uncomfortable with the concentration of so much power on a single man.  They cite the example of the previous government where such a concentration led to disastrous consequences.   Assessing the intelligence wing staff by their community is also not going down too well and it has disappointed many in the intelligence wing. 

In the wake of continuous failures on many occasions...men in Khakhi say Chief Minister wants to strengthen intelligence in the state...but these recent developments in the intelligence wing appears to be a matter of concern for many officers and many fear that it could break into an all out war ultimately affecting the performance. 

Race for “MIC ONE” begins

Finally the second list of transfers and postings for IPS officers is out…and now temperatures are running high in the Khakhi department…as yet another list is expected anytime soon…and that will be of senior level offices in the department. Whispers doing rounds in the department is that the race has already begun for the top post…i.e “MIC ONE”… Whispers in Tamil Nadu had already reported that the present DGP K.Ramanujam is likely to be relieved of the post of DGP (L&O) and will be asked only to concentrate fully on the State intelligence…as there has been continuous intelligence failure in the past …which resulted in huge embarrassment for the AIADMK government.

Now the actual race to get to the top seat has begun…the main contenders are…

Narinder Pal Singh, a 1980 batch IPS officer

Anoop Jaiswal, a 1980 batch IPS officer

Bhola Nath, a 1976 batch IPS officer ….and

S K Upadhyay, a 1976 batch IPS officer.

Well, who is leading the race…Buzz in the police department is some forces are strongly backing Narinder Pal Singh… But Narinder Pal Singh is an ADGP at present and he could contend to the top job only after being promoted to the rank of DGP. 

Anoop Jaiswal IPS

But Bhola Nath who was appointed as DGP by the Election Commission is also trying his luck to head the State Police. Sources close to Bhola Nath say that being the senior police officer in the State he has more chances of leading in the race and also whispers doing rounds in the department is that a strong north Indian lobby is working overtime to ensure that Bhola Nath becomes the next DGP. Allegations against Bhola Nath are also being heard inside the police headquarters…as it was reported in the media that he had links with an accused in a CBI case.

Narinder Pal Singh, a 1980 batch IPS officer could also be the lucky one to head the state police force. He is an officer who raised many eyebrows within the department by filing his property returns with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Narinder Pal Singh is the only officer in the Tamil Nadu IPS cadre, who has created history in recent times to hold not even a single immovable property, according to his property returns submitted to the MHA. However, sources say the now it’s being subjected to verification and also sources say others in the department are also trying to dig for more details…this cross checking is done to ensure everything is clean…so that it should not create any embarrassment for the AIADMK government in the future.  

S K Upadhyay, a 1976 batch officer is yet to be promoted to the rank of DGP…while his batch mates have been promoted and appointed as DGPs. Upadhyay’s fortunes are yet to see the light of the day and this is because he was made a scapegoat by the DMK to escape from the infamous “Phone Tapping case”…Khakhi sources say once the phone conversations were leaked in media Upadhyay was victimized by the then DMK government…as the then Chief Minister Karunanidhi was rattled when he heard the then Chief Secretary L K Tripathy and the then Vigilance Director S K Upadhyay discussing DMK government’s ulterior design to fix the present Chief Minister Jayalilathaa in the Kodanadu Estate case. Sources say despite mounting pressure on him to implicate Jaya in Kodanadu Estate case…Upadhyay did not yield to the pressure is something that  the AIADMK government seems to be considering as a valid reason for his appointment. The buzz is also that DGP Ramanujam, has personally suggested Upadhyay’s name for the top job.  

Ramanujam IPS and Bhola Nath IPS

In order to save their skin…the then DMK Chief appointed a one man commission headed by Justice Shanmugam and S K Upadhyay was found guilty and 
was suspended. It is alleged that Upadhyay’s career was spoilt by suspended DVAC employee A Shankar who is alleged to have leaked the conversation…This became a blot on the landscape for Upadhyay. Later on he was sidelined and left in lurch.

R.Natraj,IPS

A departmental enquiry by R.Natraj, former DGP  held the charges against Upadyay as not proved and also held him as not responsible for the leakage.  Though charges were cleared against Upadhyay, the DMK government chose to keep the inquiry pending to facilitate Letika Saran to become the DGP (L&O).  If the charges were cleared Letika Saran would have become ineligible to become the  DGP.   

According to the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Prakash Singh’s case only one among the senior most 3 DGPs could be selected for the top job. Next to R.Natraj and K.Vijayakumar, Upadhyay is the senior most person in the State.

As of now the race for the top post in Tamil Nadu police has begun and the participants leave no stone unturned to ensure their success.

Rift in Tamil Nadu’s Intelligence Wing?

October 30.   It’s a time bomb that is ticking as far as the Tamil Nadu police is concerned.   October 30 is the birth anniversary of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.  Muthuramalinga Thevar, who is seen as a community leader of the powerful Mukkulathor community particularly in Southern Tamil Nadu…

October 30, is celebrated by the Mukkulathor community people   as ‘Thevar Guru Poojai’… this grand pooja attracts political leaders cutting across party lines and people belonging to that community use to pay their tributes to Muthuramalinga Thevar.  But, this year’s Thevar Jayanthi is eye-catching because of the police firing in Paramakudi which claimed the lives of 6 people belonging to the Dalit community…this was during a similar gala event organized by the Dalit Community to pay tribute to their icon Immanuvel sekaran…

Retd Justice Sampath Commission

Jayalalitha  was made to believe by the former ADGP intelligence T Rajenderan that the Paramakudi firing incident would fizzle out after announcement of a judicial commission…but this seems to have crestfallen… till now there is visible anger among the people in the area the issue is pretty much alive…with simmering tension ahead of “Guru Pooja” the state police is having nightmares.   In fact, the ADMK which was able to sweep the local body elections ate humble pie in all the three Town Panchayats. In Abhiramam Town Panchayat DMK’s candidate Mohammed Abubakker won, Mudhukulathur Town Panchayat romped home DMK’s Sasivarnam to victory.   In Sayalgudi an independent Rajalakshmi won.  

DGP Ramanujam

Sources in intelligence informed Whispers in Tamil Nadu that State’s intelligence chief and DGP K.Ramanujam has made it categorical that Chief Minister should not attend Thevar Guru Pooja as it could trigger more animosity between both the communities.  A detailed report in this regard has already been sent by Ramanujam, say insiders.

However, the No: 2 in the intelligence department DIG Pon. Manickavel…is seen adopting a different strategy…Apart from regular security deployment of 5000 security personnel and adequate intelligence officers …. DIG Pon. Manickavel has ordered to intensify intelligence operations further... to ensure that everything is under control. 




Sources say DIG Pon.Manickavel has issued instructions to shift a part of the intelligence team in Chennai to Ramanathapuram district to gauge the mood of the people ahead of the grand event. Whispers doing rounds in the Khakhi department is that this could be an attempt to convince Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha that law and order situation is under control and she can visit Ramanathapuram on Guru Pooja.   The officers in the cadre of DSP, Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors who had been planning for a fantastic Diwali this year are fuming over DIG Pon.Manickavel’s decision. 

DIG Pon.Manickavel

Ironically sources say DGP Ramanujam has made it clear that if Jayalalitha visits Ramanathapuram on October 30, it would be a political suicide and also would completely alienate Dalits. Ramanujam also personally feels that it would also trigger yet another round of a law and order situation in the state and could make Jaya unpopular among the people… due to this constant unrest in Southern parts of the State.

Whispers doing rounds in the Khaki department is that whether DGP intelligence is aware of this PLAN B?? Is this move approved by the DGP? Obviously, K.Ramanujam, being an officer thorough in intelligence would naturally come to know such moves…but many say this difference of opinion would ultimately lead to a rift.

Meanwhile, the DMK is waiting to capitalize in a big way… if Jayalalitha decides to participate in Thevar Guru Pooja.   DMK had instructed its ground cadres to be in touch with Dalit organizations…so that they can as the Dalit organization to effectively campaign against Jayalalitha’s and label her as Anti-dalit. Sources say VCK Chief Thirumavalavan, Pudhiya Tamilagam Chief Dr. Krishnaswamy and others are also closely monitoring the developments and are expected to be vociferous in their opposition if Jaya plans to participate in the Guru Pooja…as the situation is explosive at the ground level. 

Participating in the Guru Pooja or not is a close call for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha given the wobbly situation both politically and communally.    If she chooses to participate, she would alienate the Dalit vote which forms the core vote bank of AIADMK.  If she chooses to ignore the Guru Pooja, this would hurt her close friend Sasikala and the powerful Mukkulathor community. Insiders say with intelligence chief K.Ramanujam taking a different stand and his second in command taking another view, would result in a rift within the intelligence wing…and this could only mean catastrophe in the State.

Paramakudi riots

But Jayalalitha, being a shrewd politician she would spring a surprise say AIADMK sources…for the moment… will she or won’t she? Is something that is being hotly debated in political and bureaucratic circles!!!