The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday placed M. Sundaresan, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW), Mayiladuthurai District, under suspension, on charges of violating the code of conduct rules for government servants and for levelling baseless allegations against senior police officers of the department. A government order issued by the Home Department to this effect said Mr. Sundaresan had given interviews to the media without obtaining prior approval from superior officers and had also intentionally levelled baseless and frivolous allegations against senior police officers. The order said he deliberately attempted to claim that injustice had been done to him by not providing a government vehicle. However, the government vehicle was returned to him on July 17, having been previously withdrawn for VVIP bandobust duty on July 11, along with 44 other vehicles mobilised from across the districts. He had threatened and abused a woman police inspector, who was subjected to severe distress, forcing her to take an extreme decision to commit suicide, which her colleagues managed to thwart. He had exerted undue influence on a Sub-Inspector of Police of the PEW Unit, to make arrangements for installing an air-conditioner and a printer in his office. He also indulged in the practice of abusing subordinate police personnel over the VHF mic, the order said. Further he failed to approach senior officers to air his grievances through the proper grievance redressal mechanism followed in the department. In spite of holding the responsible rank of DSP, PEW Unit, he had purportedly questioned the authority of the District Superintendent of Police and exhibited sheer indiscipline on many occasions, the order said. During the period of suspension, Mr. Sundaresan shall remain in Mayiladuthurai and shall not leave the headquarters without obtaining prior permission, the order added. (Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416, and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.)