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

CHENNAI

On International Women’s Day in 2006, just as Tamil Nadu was headed for a general election, a newspaper published the views of some prominent personalities on women they admired. R. Natraj, the then Commissioner of Police, Greater Chennai, was quoted as saying: “Chief Minister Jayalalithaa is the perfect example of the ideal woman. I think she is an icon, and every woman should look up to her.”

Immediately, DMK leader and Union Minister of State A. Raja lodged a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), calling into question Mr. Natraj’s capacity to function impartially. Mr. Raja said, since the Commissioner had praised the Chief Minister, he could not be depended upon to ensure a “free and fair poll” in the Greater Chennai region, which comprised 20 Assembly constituencies.

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

R. Natraj in September 2005
| Photo Credit:
V. Ganesan

Thereafter, the State Home Secretary moved the Madras High Court challenging the ECI’s decision. “The said officer is a senior police officer, with a commendable track record and impeccable integrity. His official conduct in the discharge of duties has been constantly fair and impartial,” the Home Secretary said. Transferring him for expressing his personal views appeared too harsh and incorrect, he added.

Two former DGPs, Walter I. Davaram and Pon. Paramaguru, also moved the court challenging the ECI’s letter.

The Madras High Court ruled that the ECI order was not binding on the State government. Challenging this, the ECI went to the Supreme Court. It said: “The Commission, after carefully considering the issue in all its aspects, was of the opinion that when an officer, by his own public statement, shows a positive leaning towards a particular leader of the ruling party, his impartiality, objectivity, and neutrality definitely come under question.”

Letika Saran is seen taking charge as Chennai Commissioner of Police in the presence of R. Natraj on April 20, 2006
| Photo Credit:
K. Pichumani

While its Special Leave Petition was being heard, the ECI insisted the State send a list of three IPS officers whose names could be considered as a replacement for Mr. Natraj. The Chief Secretary then forwarded the names of Letika Saran, Nanjil Kumaran, and K.V.S. Murthy. The ECI then directed the government to appoint Ms. Saran as Commissioner of Police. Mr. Natraj was shifted out.

Mr. Natraj later retired as DGP of Fire and Rescue Services. In April 2014, he joined the AIADMK, headed by Jayalalithaa. He said the party would provide him a bigger platform to serve the people. “I received the primary membership card from the party leader today…my entry is formalised. I see this as an opportunity to reach out to the people. Ms. Jayalalithaa is good at conceptualising and implementing welfare schemes,” he said then.

But nearly 20 months later, he was taken aback when Jayalalithaa expelled him from the party and asked the cadre not to have any relations with him, as he had “worked against the interests of the party and brought disrepute” to it. She did not state why the action was taken.

R. Natraj in May 2016
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam

Interestingly, what led to his expulsion in December 2015 was a faux pas by a Tamil television news channel, which inadvertently attributed to the former IPS officer a comment critical of the Jayalalithaa government made by a former journalist who shared part of his name, R. Natarajan.

“We had called R. Natarajan over the phone on Saturday to get his reaction on the government’s handling of the recent floods in Chennai and used former DGP Natraj’s photograph during the telecast of the interview. We had saved both their numbers under one name and hence the confusion. On realising the faux pas, we apologised to the former DGP and clarified the same to our viewers on Sunday morning. We also removed the content from our website,” a spokesperson of Thanthi TV told The Hindu at that time.

R. Natraj joined the AIADMK in the presence of party leader Jayalalithaa in Chennai in April 2014
| Photo Credit:
The Hindu Archives

Mr. Natraj too had lodged his protest with the editor of the channel.

A day later, Jayalalithaa merely issued a statement stating her previous day’s order stood cancelled. In effect, Mr. Natraj’s expulsion was revoked. “I knew that once facts are placed before Amma (Jayalalithaa), justice will be rendered in no time. I will continue to serve the people,” he responded.

R. Natraj, then Mylore MLA
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam

The following year, Jayalalithaa decided to reward Mr. Natraj for his loyalty. She fielded him in Mylapore Assembly constituency as an AIADMK candidate, and he went on to become an MLA. After Jayalalithaa’s death in December 2016, Mr. Natraj was briefly associated with the camp led by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam. In 2021, he lost to the DMK’s Velu.

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

Published – March 26, 2026 03:35 pm IST