19 cops shunted out for favouring Arumugam?

SALEM:  Nineteen Salem City police personnel have been transferred in the wake of media reports that they had extended favours to former DMK Minister Veerapandi S Arumugam during his custodial interrogation and  leaked information about his impending arrest.  A few of those transferred were part of the special teams formed to nab the accused in land grab cases.Salem City Police Commissioner K Sokkalingam said three sub-inspectors, five special SIs, 10 head constables and one grade I constable were transferred to Tirunelveli district.  He said the transfers were for administrative reasons.However, a few transferred policemen blamed adverse media reports.  Sokkalingam said the transfer orders were issued by the DGP only on Thursday and were yet to be issued to the staff concerned.  He said that as many as 90 policemen of the 1999 batch, who are serving in the Armed Reserve, will be inducted into the city police and to various taluk headquarters.  On July 30, the day of Arumugam’s arrest, four inspectors were transferred.  Sokkalingam said the transfer orders were issued in advance and had nothing to do with the ex-minister’s treatment in custody.The Commissioner also denied reports of transfer of officials in the City Crime Branch’s Land Grab Cell, including its Assistant Commissioner K Pitchai.It was earlier reported that the police had leaked information to the former agriculture minister that an FIR had been filed against him in the Angammal Colony and the Premier Mills cases.  This reportedly enabled him to move the Madras High Court and obtain a conditional anticipatory bail.