A 38-year-old sub-inspector (SI) of Kilpennathur police in Tiruvannamalai was suspended for reportedly transferring ₹1.5 lakh to her bank account from a shopkeeper, who was arrested for selling gutka, without his acknowledgement.
The suspended sub-inspector has been identified as S. Kavitha. Based on an inquiry, the Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Sudhakar has issued the suspension order. Initial inquiry revealed that the victim K. Balamurali, 42, was running a petty shop in his native Mekalur village near Kilpennathur town in the district for many years. In October 2025, a special police team found gutka in his outlet during a surprise check in the area. Kilpennathur police registered a case against him for possession of a banned product.
Police said that as part of the inquiry, station inspector Lakshmi and sub-inspector Kavitha reportedly asked him to surrender his mobile phone and a bank passbook. They also told him to share the password of his bank accounts.
Police said later, Balamurali was released on bail. After the completion of an inquiry, by Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), into the seizure of gutka in the shop, Kilpennathur police returned his mobile phone and bank passbooks.
While checking his messages in the mobile phone, Balamurali found that ₹80,000 had been withdrawn from his bank account on October 23, 2025. A week later, another ₹90,000 was withdrawn from his account on October 30.
Police said that Balamurali pleaded with SI Kavitha and Inspector Lakshmi to return his money but they allegedly did not respond to his request. Subsequently, he lodged a complaint with Asra Garg, Inspector General of Police (North Zone), who ordered an inquiry into the allegations.
Police said that the inquiry found that sub-inspector Kavitha apparently transferred the money online to her friend’s account, Raj Durai, to evade surveillance. Following the revelations, the order for suspension against Kavitha has been issued.
Police said that Kavitha was awarded the best police officer award at 77th Republic Day celebrations held on January 26 in Tiruvannamalai. An inquiry into the role of Inspector Lakshmi is under way.
Published – March 28, 2026 05:30 am IST
