Chennai: In a significant administrative reshuffle, the Tamil Nadu government has transferred 33 senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, appointing them to new roles across the state.
The large-scale move, impacting officials at the levels of Inspectors General (IGs), Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs), and Superintendents of Police (SPs), aims to enhance operational efficiency and address recent controversies involving custodial deaths and sensitive investigations.
Key IG-Level Appointments
D Mahendar Kumar Rathode has been appointed as Inspector General of Police (IGP) at the state headquarters.
Praveen Kumar Abhinapu will serve as IGP (General) in the Director General of Police (DGP) office.
B Shamoondeshwari takes over as IGP, Social Justice and Human Rights Wing, reflecting a focus on equity-related policing.
A K Giri has been posted as the Commissioner of Police, Salem City.
DIG-Level Transfers
G Dharmarajan, earlier serving as Joint Commissioner of Police (City Intelligence), Chennai, has been appointed DIG of Vellore Range.
N Devarani has been transferred as the DIG of Kancheepuram Range, continuing oversight in one of the state’s rapidly developing regions.
Controversial Repostings and New City Assignments
Ashish Rawat, the SP previously moved to vacancy reserve after the custodial murder of a security guard in Sivaganga, has been reassigned as SP of the Economic Offences Wing, CID.
R Shiva Prasad replaces Rawat as the new SP of Sivaganga District.
In Chennai city, several notable changes have been made:
R Udhayakumar is the new Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Anna Nagar.
P Kumar will take charge in Kolathur, while D Kumar has been appointed as the DCP for South Chennai City Traffic.
Sujit Kumar becomes the DCP of Koyambedu.
Meanwhile, R Pandiarajan, who was removed as Kolathur DCP following the suicide of Tirumala Milk Firm treasury manager Naveen Bollineni, has now been appointed as Battalion Commandant in Palani.
Strategic and Intelligence Appointments
Ara Arulrasu will now head the state’s Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), working closely with the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Rajesh Kannan has been appointed as Superintendent, Special Division, DGP Office.
Arun Balagopalan has been named SP of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Enforcement Cell.
Other District-Level Appointments
S Vimala is the new SP of Namakkal.
Vivekananda Shukla has been posted as the SP of Tiruvallur.
The reshuffle is being seen as part of a broader administrative strategy to strengthen law enforcement across critical regions while addressing public concerns and boosting accountability.
