An SP-rank officer, Senthilkumar, was arrested in Coimbatore following allegations of sexual harassment made by a woman police officer who had come for training at the 4th Police Battalion unit in Pudur.
According to the complaint, Senthilkumar, who served as commandant of the Special Police Force unit at Coimbatore Pudur, allegedly behaved inappropriately with the woman officer. She submitted a complaint to the committee that probes crimes against women.
Based on the allegations, the Tamil Nadu government had earlier placed Senthilkumar under suspension. Orders were also issued directing him to stay at the Tamil Nadu Special Police Force headquarters in Chennai until the inquiry was completed, and not to travel outside the state or abroad without government permission.
After the inquiry confirmed the charges, police arrested the suspended officer. He was produced before a court and subsequently sent to jail, triggering widespread attention in Coimbatore as a senior police official was taken into custody in a sexual harassment case.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, referring to the incident, condemned the alleged misconduct and questioned women’s safety when those tasked with protection face such accusations. He also alleged that sexual crimes were rising in the state and blamed the DMK government’s inaction and lack of control over narcotics, including ganja.
