Infamous cop suspended for receiving fine in cash

Traffic inspector V Ravichandran, infamous for the episode of pushing his subordinate from a moving bike in Teynampet, was suspended after a video of him receiving fine in cash from motorists for allegedly violating traffic rules went viral on Monday.

The Greater Chennai Police stopped the practice of receiving spot fine from traffic rule violators in May last year. The fine should be paid either using debit/credit card or in post offices. However, Ravichandran was seen collecting fines in cash from motorists on Chennai-Tiruttani highway in Ambattur. He then counted the cash and kept it in his bag.

According to sources, it was speculated that the video was shot and circulated by call taxi drivers, who wanted to expose the police officers collecting bribes. They were irked after Rajesh, a call taxi driver, committed suicide allegedly upset over traffic policemen abusing him recently.

The inspector, who was attached to the Teynampet traffic enforcement wing, was suspended for pushing his subordinate Dharmaraja, a constable, off a moving bike on November 21. This happened a day after the constable complained on walkie-talkie that he could not perform the last rites for his deceased mother as the inspector did not grant him leave.

Dharmaraja suffered a fracture in the incident and his wife filed an attempt to murder case against Ravichandran. Though both officers were suspended at that time, they were reinstated after the complaint was solved amicably. After this, Ravichandran wasposted in Ambattur.

Several police personnel opined that had Ravichandran been punished appropriately for his previous offence, the city police could have prevented anotherembarrassment.