The suspended “encounter specialist” Velladurai is allowed to end his career under certain conditions

CHENNAI: The Home Ministry on Thursday suspended Deputy Superintendent of Police of Crime Records Bureau, Tiruvannamalai, S. Velladurai, putting his retirement from service in jeopardy a day later, Friday.

However, in a subsequent order on Friday, the department allowed him to retire on certain conditions. Velladurai was known as an “encounter specialist” and was part of the special unit that killed forest bandit Veerappan. The suspension order on Thursday said it was necessary in public interest to suspend the officer as criminal proceedings were to be initiated against him in a case.

According to police sources, the case is linked to the alleged death of ‘Kokki’ Kumar alias Kumar (26) in custody in Sivaganga district in 2013. Kumar, wanted for theft, was also reportedly a close associate of Prabhu and Bharathi, who were killed in a ‘police encounter’ in 2012 while trying to escape from custody after being arrested for their role in the murder of Sub-Inspector Alwin Sudhan.

The subsequent order on Friday said the government had allowed Velladurai to retire from service on the condition that a total of Rs 500,000 would be withheld from his death and retirement gratuity to comply with the recommendations of the State Human Rights Commission in some cases concerning him and subject to the outcome of the writ petitions he has filed in the Supreme Court in the matter.

“Velladurai suspended in public interest”

In the suspension order issued on Thursday, it was said that it was necessary in the public interest to suspend S. Velladurai as criminal proceedings were to be initiated against him in a case