Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday placed two senior IPS officers, A. Arun (IPS: 1998: TN) and N. Kannan (IPS: 2002: IPS), on compulsory wait, amid scrutiny over the handling of a POCSO case involving Gem Granites owner R. Veeramani.
According to an order issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K. Manivasan (IAS: 1993: TN), Arun, currently Additional Director General of Police and Director of the Tamil Nadu Police Academy, and Kannan, Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City, were transferred from their posts with immediate effect and placed on compulsory wait. The order did not specify the reasons for the transfers.
Officers Who Previously Served in Chennai
The action comes amid questions about when Chennai Police were first alerted to allegations involving Veeramani.
Arun had previously served as Chennai Police Commissioner, while Kannan had served as Additional Commissioner of Police, South, Chennai. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Scheduled Caste Department president Ranjan Kumar has said that he approached Kannan in November 2024 with a complaint concerning allegations against Veeramani and an associate.
Kannan later told The News Minute that he had received the complaint and had escalated the matter to the then Commissioner of Police, A. Arun.
Questions Over When Police Received Information
The timeline of when the police first received information about the allegations has become a key issue in the case.
According to the sources, authorities formally became aware of the allegations in October 2025, when an activist approached them with a pen drive containing purported visuals involving a minor girl. Ranjan Kumar, however, has said he had approached the police in November 2024 and subsequently provided video material in December 2024.
The differing accounts regarding the earlier complaint and the later receipt of digital evidence have contributed to scrutiny of the handling of the case.
New Officers Given Additional Charges
Following the government order, Rajeev Kumar (IPS: 1992: Bihar), DGP (Training), has been given additional charge of the Tamil Nadu Police Academy.
R.V. Ramya Bharathi (IPS: 2008: TN), IGP, West Zone, has been given additional charge as Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City.
The development comes as the investigation into the POCSO case against Veeramani continues. Reports state that Veeramani and two associates were arrested on August 29 in connection with the case.
Who are A. Arun and N. Kannan?
A. Arun: A 1998-batch IPS officer of the Tamil Nadu-cadre, Arun holds a B.E. and MDPM. He has served in several senior policing roles, including Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, before being posted as ADGP/Director of the Tamil Nadu Police Academy.
N. Kannan: A 2002-batch IPS officer of the Tamil Nadu-cadre, Kannan holds an MVSc and Ph.D. He has served in various policing assignments, including Additional Commissioner of Police, Law & Order, South Greater Chennai, before taking charge as Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City, in January 2026.
