Chennai: ECI appointed Dr Sandeep Rai Rathore as Tamil Nadu DGP (HoPF), replacing G Venkataraman on Thursday. Dr Sandeep Rai Rathore took charge on Thursday as per orders of Tamil Nadu Home Secretary Dheeraj Kumar.

ECI ordered Tamil Nadu Home Secretary Dheeraj Kumar to transfer the State’s DGP (Head of Police Force) and three more senior IPS officers on the representations of TVK Chief Vijay to the commission through the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu.

ECI had directed all the new officers to take charge in their new roles latest by 11 am on Friday and added that those transferred out should not be involved in any election related work.

ECI’s direction came two days after TVK president Vijay sent a representation to the commission through the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu. TVK Chief Vijay demanded to transfer the DGP (HoPF), ADGP (Law and Order), the Commissioner of Greater Chennai Police, the officer heading the Intelligence Wing of the state police, and Greater Chennai Corporation’s Commissioner, alleging bias in providing permissions and necessary security for his party’s campaign meeting.

Commissioner of Tambaram city police A Amalraj, Commissioner of Madurai city police J Loganathan, and IG of West Zone A Saravana Sundar have also been transferred out. As per ECI’s directions Sanjay Kumar, ADGP, Coastal Security Group, has been appointed as the new Tambaram city police commissioner, Abhishek Dixit, IG Traffic and Road Safety, Greater Chennai Police, will be the Commissioner of Police, Madurai. RV Ramya Bharathi, IG, Crime, Chennai, will be IG West Zone.

The ECI said Thoothukudi Collector K Elambahavath should be transferred and Vishu Mahajan should be appointed as the new Collector. R Brindha Devi, Collector, Salem, be transferred and A Arun Thamburaj be appointed the new Collector.