A Police Special Sub-Inspector, Karuppiah, was arrested on charges of reportedly being in an inebriated condition and allegedly misbehaving with a woman motorist on Avanashi Road near the GKNM Hospital Road Junction.
Commotion prevailed on Avanashi Road on Wednesday afternoon when agitated motorists apprehended the Special Sub-Inspector.
It is learnt that the SSI who stopped the motorist under the pretext of checking her driving licence and other vehicle-related documents tried to misbehave with the woman.
When the woman could no longer tolerate the misbehaviour of the SSI, she is said to have raised an alarm. On hearing her screams, fellow motorists and passers-by came to her rescue. On seeing the police officer under the influence of liquor and trying to intimidate the public, some members of the public reportedly assaulted the police officer.
On information, a police team was rushed to the spot and the SSI was taken away in a police vehicle.
Police had to convince the assembled motorists that he was being taken to Coimbatore Medical College Hospital only to get a medical certificate and that they were not trying to protect him. He was taken to the CMCH, and a certificate of drunkenness was obtained.
On directions from the City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan, Race Course Police have registered a case against the SSI under section 354 (assault or criminal force on woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under section 4 (1) (J) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act. He was arrested and later placed under suspension under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Police Subordinate Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rule, 1955.
He would have to face a departmental inquiry as part of the disciplinary proceedings.
It may be recalled that Mr. Viswanathan had cracked the whip on four police officers for misbehaving under the influence of alcohol.
Wednesday’s incident was the fifth.
Two Special Sub-Inspectors, Samidasan and Nagarajan, were suspended for having been found drunk while on duty.
Inspector Sundaresan of Ukkadam Police Station (Crime) was suspended for driving the official vehicle in an inebriated state and causing a road accident).
Two days ago, a constable attached to the City Armed Reserve Police, Santhosh Kumar was arrested and suspended for riding a two-wheeler in a drunken state and causing an accident.
