In a shocking case of police misconduct, three constables from the Chennai police force were suspended on Saturday. They face serious charges of robbery and extortion after a hotel employee accused them of forcibly taking ₹15,000 from him.
The Sequence of a Harrowing Night
The ordeal began last week when the employee, whose identity remains protected, was returning home. According to the official police account, he was first robbed of ₹5,000 by a group of transgender persons in the Thousand Lights area.
Seeking help, the distressed man approached a police patrol vehicle and reported the initial crime to the personnel inside. Instead of assisting him, two policemen—constables Rathnam and Vignesh—questioned him, detained him inside their vehicle, and drove him towards the Nungambakkam police station.
On the way, a third constable, Khaja Moideen, joined them. The trio then threatened the hotel employee, stating they would register a false case against him. To avoid this, they demanded a bribe.
The Forced ATM Withdrawal and Official Complaint
The policemen stopped their vehicle near an ATM kiosk. There, they used the victim's debit card to forcibly withdraw a sum of ₹15,000. After this traumatic encounter, the man returned to his room in Anna Nagar.
Upon hearing his story, his roommates advised him to take the matter to senior police officers. Deeply distressed, the hotel employee mustered the courage to report the entire incident to Triplicane Deputy Commissioner Jayachandran.
Suspension Follows Preliminary Inquiry
A preliminary inquiry was immediately ordered and conducted by an Assistant Commissioner of Police. The investigation confirmed the victim's allegations. It was established that the three constables, all attached to the Nungambakkam law-and-order wing, had indeed collected the bribe from the complainant under the pretext of not filing a case.
Based on this inquiry report, swift departmental action was taken. All three constables—Rathnam, Vignesh, and Khaja Moideen—were placed under suspension pending further disciplinary proceedings. The case highlights severe lapses in conduct and has raised questions about accountability within the force.
