Chennai: Five Tamil Nadu police personnel have faced disciplinary action within a week in separate cases involving allegations of demanding or accepting bribes, with the action ranging from suspension to dismissal.
The cases, reported from Tirunelveli, Chennai and surrounding areas, involve alleged payments ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 10,000. Internal Vigilance Cell enquiries were conducted in several cases before disciplinary action was initiated.
The incidents include allegations involving a routine vehicle check, the release of a stolen two-wheeler and repeated demands for bribes. The latest action comes amid continued scrutiny of corruption allegations within the state police force.
Head constable suspended over Rs 1,000 GPay demand
One of the cases involves head constable Sorna Raj of Melapalayam Police Station in Tirunelveli City.
He was suspended after allegedly demanding Rs 1,000 from a two-wheeler rider during a routine vehicle check. According to the reported details, the rider did not have complete documents.
Sorna Raj allegedly sought money from the rider and shared his Google Pay number to facilitate the payment.
The incident subsequently came to the attention of senior police officials, following which disciplinary action was initiated against the head constable. Reports said the rider had recorded a conversation connected with the alleged demand, which later circulated on social media.
The suspension followed an inquiry into the allegations.
The case has drawn attention because the alleged demand involved a relatively small amount but was made in connection with routine enforcement duties.
Chennai SI and constable suspended over Rs 10,000
In Chennai, sub-inspector Sivaraj and constable Vivek of North Beach Police Station were suspended following an Internal Vigilance Cell enquiry into an alleged Rs 10,000 bribe.
The case relates to the recovery of a stolen two-wheeler.
According to the complaint received by the Greater Chennai Police Internal Vigilance Cell, the complainant, a native of Sivaganga, had been working in Tiruppur when his two-wheeler was stolen. He had subsequently lodged a complaint with the police.
Vivek later informed him that the stolen vehicle had been traced in Chennai and asked him to come to the police station to take possession of it.
When the complainant visited North Beach Police Station on September 28, 2026, Sivaraj and Vivek allegedly demanded money for releasing the vehicle.
The two personnel reportedly received Rs 10,000 through Google Pay before the vehicle was released.
The Internal Vigilance Cell subsequently conducted an enquiry and found the allegations to be true, according to police sources cited in the reports.
Following the findings, Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj ordered the suspension of both personnel. A departmental enquiry is also under way to determine further action.
Madhavaram sub-inspector suspended
Another sub-inspector, who was posted at Madhavaram Police Station, was also suspended following an Internal Vigilance Cell enquiry.
The enquiry examined a complaint alleging that the officer had demanded a bribe.
The preliminary enquiry found the charge to be established, following which the department ordered the officer’s suspension.
The case is separate from the North Beach Police Station incident and involved a different complaint and enquiry.
The disciplinary action reflects the department’s approach of initiating proceedings after allegations are examined through internal mechanisms rather than treating all five cases as a single incident.
Puzhal SI dismissed after departmental enquiry
The most serious disciplinary action in the series was taken against sub-inspector Marishwaran of Puzhal Police Station.
He was dismissed from service following a departmental enquiry into allegations of demanding and accepting bribes.
The allegations against Marishwaran date back to 2024, when he was posted at Anna Nagar Police Station. The charges were subsequently examined through departmental proceedings.
According to the details reported about the case, the charges were found to be true. Authorities subsequently ordered his dismissal from service, citing repeated instances of demanding bribes.
Unlike the other recent cases, which resulted in suspension, the disciplinary proceedings against Marishwaran ultimately led to dismissal from the police service.
The action demonstrates the different consequences that can follow depending on the findings of individual enquiries and the nature of the allegations.
Five cases, different disciplinary action
The five cases involve different circumstances and were dealt with separately by the police department.
| Police personnel | Location | Allegation | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sorna Raj | Melapalayam, Tirunelveli | Rs 1,000 GPay demand during vehicle check | Suspended |
| Sivaraj | North Beach, Chennai | Rs 10,000 allegedly received for releasing stolen bike | Suspended |
| Vivek | North Beach, Chennai | Rs 10,000 allegedly received for releasing stolen bike | Suspended |
| Sub-inspector | Madhavaram | Bribe demand complaint | Suspended |
| Marishwaran | Puzhal | Repeated bribe demands/acceptance | Dismissed |
The cases therefore cover allegations ranging from seeking money from a motorist during a vehicle check to allegedly accepting money in connection with the release of a recovered stolen vehicle.
The disciplinary measures have also varied according to the findings of the respective enquiries.
Focus on corruption within police force
The latest cases come amid continued attention on allegations of corruption within the Tamil Nadu police.
In February, the state police chief had directed officers to review cases involving personnel under prolonged suspension because of disciplinary, vigilance or criminal proceedings. The review was to be conducted on a case-by-case basis.
The latest disciplinary action comes against that broader backdrop of efforts to address pending cases and allegations involving police personnel.
The use of digital payment platforms in some of the latest cases has also added another dimension to the allegations. In the Tirunelveli case, a Google Pay number was allegedly shared to receive the demanded amount, while the Chennai investigation centred on a reported Rs 10,000 Google Pay transaction.
Digital payment records can potentially provide investigators with evidence when allegations involve a transfer of money, although the evidentiary value in any individual case depends on the investigation and applicable proceedings.
Departmental enquiries determine next steps
The five cases demonstrate the different stages through which disciplinary proceedings can progress.
In some cases, preliminary or Internal Vigilance Cell enquiries established sufficient grounds for suspension. In the case involving Marishwaran, a departmental enquiry into older allegations resulted in dismissal.
The police department’s action does not mean that all five cases have identical circumstances. Each complaint was examined separately, and the disciplinary consequences followed the findings in the respective proceedings.
For the police force, the latest actions also underline the importance of accountability when personnel are accused of using official positions to seek or accept money.
With five personnel facing action within a week, including one dismissal, the cases have put renewed focus on the Tamil Nadu police department’s internal mechanisms for dealing with corruption allegations and on the need for disciplinary proceedings to be completed on the basis of evidence and established findings.