How an ex-IPS officer, transferred by Election Commission for praising Jayalalithaa, later became AIADMK MLA

CHENNAI

On International Women’s Day successful 2006, conscionable arsenic Tamil Nadu was headed for a wide election, a paper published the views of immoderate salient personalities connected women they admired. R. Natraj, the past Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, was quoted arsenic saying: “Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is the cleanable illustration of the perfect woman. I deliberation she is an icon, and each pistillate should look up to her.”

Immediately, DMK person and Union Minister of State A. Raja lodged a ailment with the Election Commission of India (ECI), calling into question Mr. Natraj’s capableness to relation impartially. Mr. Raja said, since the Commissioner had praised the Chief Minister, helium could not beryllium depended upon to guarantee a “free and just poll” successful the Greater Chennai region, which comprised 20 Assembly constituencies.

The ECI, headed by Chief Election Commissioner B.B. Tandon, soon directed the Tamil Nadu authorities to transportation Mr. Natraj from his post. The Jayalalithaa government, however, wrote to the ECI urging it to reconsider its decision. The canvass assemblage declined.

Thereafter, the State Home Secretary moved the Madras High Court challenging the ECI’s decision. “The said serviceman is simply a elder constabulary officer, with a commendable way grounds and impeccable integrity. His authoritative behaviour successful the discharge of duties has been perpetually just and impartial,” the Home Secretary said. Transferring him for expressing his idiosyncratic views appeared excessively harsh and incorrect, helium added.

Two erstwhile DGPs, Walter I. Davaram and Pon. Paramaguru, besides moved the tribunal challenging the ECI’s letter.

The Madras High Court ruled that the ECI bid was not binding connected the State government. Challenging this, the ECI went to the Supreme Court. It said: “The Commission, aft cautiously considering the contented successful each its aspects, was of the sentiment that erstwhile an officer, by his ain nationalist statement, shows a affirmative leaning towards a peculiar person of the ruling party, his impartiality, objectivity, and neutrality decidedly travel nether question.”

While its Special Leave Petition was being heard, the ECI insisted the State nonstop a database of 3 IPS officers whose names could beryllium considered arsenic a replacement for Mr. Natraj. The Chief Secretary past forwarded the names of Letika Saran, Nanjil Kumaran, and K.V.S. Murthy. The ECI past directed the authorities to name Ms. Saran arsenic Commissioner of Police. Mr. Natraj was shifted out.

Mr. Natraj aboriginal retired arsenic DGP of Fire and Rescue Services. In April 2014, helium joined the AIADMK, headed by Jayalalithaa. He said the enactment would supply him a bigger level to service the people. “I received the superior rank paper from the enactment person today...my introduction is formalised. I spot this arsenic an accidental to scope retired to the people. Ms. Jayalalithaa is bully astatine conceptualising and implementing payment schemes,” helium said then.

But astir 20 months later, helium was taken aback erstwhile Jayalalithaa expelled him from the enactment and asked the cadre not to person immoderate relations with him, arsenic helium had “worked against the interests of the enactment and brought disrepute” to it. She did not authorities wherefore the enactment was taken.

Interestingly, what led to his expulsion successful December 2015 was a faux pas by a Tamil tv quality channel, which inadvertently attributed to the erstwhile IPS serviceman a remark captious of the Jayalalithaa authorities made by a erstwhile writer who shared portion of his name, R. Natarajan.

“We had called R. Natarajan implicit the telephone connected Saturday to get his absorption connected the government’s handling of the caller floods successful Chennai and utilized erstwhile DGP Natraj’s photograph during the telecast of the interview. We had saved some their numbers nether 1 sanction and hence the confusion. On realising the faux pas, we apologised to the erstwhile DGP and clarified the aforesaid to our viewers connected Sunday morning. We besides removed the contented from our website,” a spokesperson of Thanthi TV told The Hindu at that time.

Mr. Natraj excessively had lodged his protestation with the exertion of the channel.

A time later, Jayalalithaa simply issued a connection stating her erstwhile day’s bid stood cancelled. In effect, Mr. Natraj’s expulsion was revoked. “I knew that erstwhile facts are placed before Amma (Jayalalithaa), justness volition beryllium rendered successful nary time. I volition proceed to service the people,” helium responded.

The pursuing year, Jayalalithaa decided to reward Mr. Natraj for his loyalty. She fielded him successful Mylapore Assembly constituency arsenic an AIADMK candidate, and helium went connected to go an MLA. After Jayalalithaa’s decease successful December 2016, Mr. Natraj was concisely associated with the campy led by erstwhile Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. In 2021, helium mislaid to the DMK’s Velu.

In the upcoming Assembly election, the Mylapore constituency has been allotted by the AIADMK to the BJP, its main ally.