DSP, two inspectors shunted out after bar agent’s suicide

After the incident, two police officers and an AIADMK worker were booked for abetting the man’s suicide. The deceased had named them in a video on social media for harassing him demanding large amounts of money to run the bars.

Police said Nellaiyappan (38), a native of Tirunelveli, reached Mahabalipuram DSP office on Tuesday morning and raised slogans demanding closure of bars attached to Tasmac outlets in the jurisdiction. He said that the Mahabalipuram DSP Subburaj and Tiruporur inspector Kannan and a few AIADMK workers had been harassing and demanding bribe from him. He later set himself on fire and later succumbed at the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital.

On Wednesday, the Kancheepuram district SP transferred the DSP and Tiruporur police inspector based on the statement of the deceased on social media. The SP also shifted Mahabalipuram inspector Pandian, who failed to protect the forensic evidence of the suicide. The entire area was washed and cleaned without collecting the evidence for suicide of Nellaiyappan.

The Mahabalipuram police named the AIADMK worker Anandan, Mahabalipuram DSP Subburaj and Tiruporur police inspector Kannan in their first information report (FIR) based on the complaint lodged by one Ayyappan. The police personnel collected the video clips from social media in which Nellaiyappan explained how he was forced to bribe various officials.

Police said they have formed teams to nab the absconding AIADMK worker Anandan and a few others with whom Nellaiyappan was doing business.

Police sources noted that Nellaiyappan acted as a benami for the AIADMK party men and handled more than several illegal bars in the Kancheepuram district. Nellaiyappan reportedly organised food and drink for AIADMK legislators who were staying in Koovathur resort when Panneerselvam revolted against VK Sasikala in 2017.

Kancheepuram Tasmac officials on Wednesday sealed six illegal bars which were run by AIADMK cadre Anandan in Kelambakkam with the help of Nellaiyappan.  Nellaiyappan before committing suicide recorded a 12-minute video in which he mentioned that the license holder Anandan, an AIADMK cadre, is collecting Rs 78,000 as rent for the bars per day. Following that, the Tasmac senior officials inspected the bars and said that Anandan didn’t have licenses for any of the bars and the bars that were functioning at Tiruporur Junction, Tiruporur bus stop, Kannagapattu village, Thaiyur village in OMR, Thandalam Road and Kelambakkam were sealed.