VR Lakshminarayanan, CBI Joint Director who arrested Indira, passes away

Brother of well-known jurist VR Krishna Iyer, Lakshminarayanan had graduated from the MCC in the year 1945 before studying law. He joined the Indian Police Service in the year 1951 and retired in 1986 as state DGP.

When the Moraji Desai government charged Indira Gandhi with corruption, Lakshminarayanan, who was the then CBI Joint Director, was asked to arrest her. “It was not a very edifying feat. I let her take a personal attendant with her, not permitted by the law. No handcuffs, though she demanded a pair,” recalled Lakshminarayanan in his book Appointments and Disappointments.

When Indira Gandhi returned to power at the Centre, Lakshminarayanan was moved out of the CBI and was sent back to his home cadre and he came to TN to serve the state police department when MG Ramachandran was Chief Minister. Lakshminarayanan joined the police force in the year 1951 and was posted as the Assistant Superintendent of Police in Madurai during the tenure of Kamarajar. 

He went on to serve during the tenure of Anna Durai, Karunanidhi and MG Ramachandran. While serving as the head of the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation from 1981 to 1984, he was instrumental in providing quarters to the police personnel.

Remembering Lakshminarayanan, Chennai police commissioner AK Viswanathan said the former DGP was an extremely affectionate person, especially to his police officers. “He would often write letters appreciating our good work or supporting us in times of difficulty. A good soul who loved police and policing till death. Stood for independence and honesty. Simple and frugal. Balanced and bereft of ostentation,” Viswanathan noted.

Lakshminarayanan is survived by his son Suresh and daughters Usha Ravi and Rama - all settled abroad. The funeral will be held on Tuesday morning at Anna Nagar crematorium.