Chennai: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) D Magesh Kumar, who was suspended earlier this year over sexual harassment allegations, has been reappointed as DIG of the Coastal Security Group in Chennai. The development follows the lifting of his suspension in April, based on findings by the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) that concluded no further disciplinary action was necessary after a conciliation process.
Background: Allegation and Suspension
Kumar had been under suspension since February 2025 after a woman traffic constable accused him of sexual and physical harassment during his tenure as Joint Commissioner of Police (North), Greater Chennai Police. Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal ordered a departmental inquiry, and Kumar was placed in Vacancy Reserve at the DGP’s office pending investigation.
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Counterclaim and ICC Report
During the probe, Kumar’s wife, a former sub-inspector, filed a counter-complaint, accusing the complainant of attempted extortion of ₹25 lakh, claiming the harassment charges were fabricated. CCTV footage was cited as part of their defense.
A Vishaka Committee, led by DGP Seema Agarwal, was constituted to look into the matter in accordance with established guidelines for sexual harassment inquiries. The Internal Complaints Committee later found no sufficient evidence to proceed with disciplinary action and closed the case following a conciliation process.
Reposting and Reactions
With the ICC report clearing the way, Magesh Kumar has now been posted as DIG, Coastal Security Group, replacing R Jayanthi, who has been transferred as DIG, Technical Services, Chennai.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions within the police community and from civil society. While some view the reinstatement as procedural following the ICC report, others have raised concerns over transparency, institutional safeguards, and the handling of sexual misconduct allegations in law enforcement.
Read Also: Chennai Joint Commissioner of Police Suspended Over Sexual Harassment Complaint
Questions of Institutional Accountability
The reassignment has reignited public discourse on workplace harassment mechanisms in uniformed services, especially regarding the credibility of internal committees, pressure dynamics, and the impact on women officers who come forward with complaints.
Legal experts and activists have called for greater transparency in internal inquiry processes, independent oversight of high-profile cases, and the protection of complainants’ rights through more robust and impartial systems.
