History-sheeter remanded in prison for violation of externment order

A history-sheeter who breached an externment order issued by the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner has been remanded in judicial custody, marking the first time in nearly 25 years, that provisions of the City Police Act have been invoked to jail a violator of such an order, the police said.

The externment orders were issued as part of a crackdown on notorious rowdy elements entering the city and threatening public peace. Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun directed preventive action to curb the activities of such offenders within Greater Chennai limits.

Acting on the recommendation of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Triplicane district, externment orders under Section 51A of the Chennai City Police Act were issued on September 13, last year against five history-sheeters assessed as a threat to public safety and likely to intimidate witnesses in pending cases.

The five persons are Ajay Rohan, 36, of Panaiyur; Nagendra Sethupathi, 33, of Ramanathapuram district; Premkumar, 45, of Anna Nagar, Madurai district; Raja, 42, of Thiruvanmiyur; and Selva Bharathi, 26. Three more history-sheeters were issued similar externment orders in April last year.

Ajay Rohan faces three cases; Nagendra Sethupathi, a history-sheeter at Paramakudi Town police station, is involved in four cases; Premkumar in three cases; Raja in one case; and Selva Bharathi in two cases.

Under the order, the five men were barred from entering Greater Chennai police limits for one year, except to attend court hearings or police inquiries related to their cases. Authorities had warned that any violation would invite strict legal action.

Police said that on February 11, Premkumar of Anna Nagar, Madurai, violated the externment order by entering the city. He was arrested by the F-3 Nungambakkam police, produced before the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Egmore the same day, and remanded in judicial custody until February 25.

Crackdown under Section 51A

To rein in repeat offenders and maintain law and order, the Greater Chennai City Police have invoked Section 51A of the Madras City Police Act. The provision empowers the Police Commissioner to direct the removal of individuals from the city if their movements or activities are likely to cause alarm, danger, or harm to persons or property, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe they may commit offences involving force or violence.

Senior police officials said the provision has been invoked after a gap of nearly 25 years. In the past six months alone, externment orders have been issued against at least eight individuals.

Apart from the five named in September 2025, similar orders were issued in April against ‘Nedunkundram’ Surya (a BJP state office-bearer), ‘Naduveerapattu’ Lenin, and ‘Rocket’ Raja, barring them from entering the city for a year.

Police said the move is part of a broader strategy to identify and act against history-sheeters repeatedly involved in violent crimes and public disturbances. In coordination with districts across Tamil Nadu, authorities have also traced offenders who were on the run to evade legal action and initiated stringent proceedings against them.

According to the Commissioner’s order, the externment measures aim to safeguard public peace and prevent the recurrence of criminal activities by individuals involved in multiple serious offences and posing a significant threat to public safety.