Police officer who shot Veerappan suspended before retirement | Chennai News

CHENNAI: S. Velladurai, a deputy superintendent of police nicknamed the ‘encounter specialist’ and a police officer credited with shooting dead forest bandit Veerappan in 2004, has been suspended a day before his retirement.

Velladurai rose to prominence after he killed history-sheeter ‘Ayodhyakuppam’ Veeramani in an altercation at the Marina. He was a member of the Special Task Force that hunted Veerappan. He started his career as a Sub-Inspector of Police and was promoted to Deputy Superintendent of Police (AdSP).

Sources told TOI that the state home department issued the suspension orders even though Attorney General and Police Commissioner Shankar Jiwal had recommended his peaceful resignation.

The suspension order mentioned his involvement in the custodial death of 26-year-old Kumar alias Kokki Kumar alias Ramu, reported at Thirupachethi in Sivaganga district on June 6, 2013.

Kumar’s case was referred to the CB-CID Commission of Inquiry and Police Inspector S. Geetha submitted her final report to the competent court in 2023, advocating closure of the case as ‘Further Action Dropped’ (FAD).

Police said Kumar had robbed one P Suresh, a resident of Thiruppachethi near Avarangadu railway station, of Rs 500. The policemen led by Special Inspector Durai Singam tried to arrest Kumar. He attacked the policemen with a sickle and tried to escape.

In the scuffle, he fell into a pit and sustained injuries on his legs and body. He was later taken to Rajaji Government General Hospital in Madurai, where he was declared brought dead.

Kumar was a close associate of M Prabhu and Bharathi of Pudukulam, who were killed in a police encounter in November 2013 for their involvement in the killing of Police Sub-Inspector Alwin Sudhan of Thirupachethi police station while he was on police duty during the Marudhu Pandiyar Guru Puja festival at Kalaiyar Koil on January 5, 2012.

After the DMK came to power on May 7, 2021, Velladurai was deputed to monitor the gangsters who were threatening businessmen and commercial establishments in Sriperumbudur.

According to sources, the Home Ministry was conducting an investigation into the case of former police inspector Lloyd Chandra of Marina police station when Velladurai killed gangster Ayodhyakuppam Veeramani on July 23, 2003.