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.
