A recent inquiry initiated by the Madras High Court has unequivocally confirmed serious allegations against Kancheepuram Principal District and Sessions Judge, Pa.U. Chemmal. The probe found that Judge Chemmal indeed ordered a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) into judicial custody this month, not based on legal grounds, but due to a personal conflict with his former Personal Security Officer (PSO).
On Tuesday, Justice N. Sathish Kumar instructed the High Court Registry to forward the Registrar (Vigilance)’s detailed inquiry report to the Vigilance Committee, composed of senior judges, for decisive action. Furthermore, he mandated that the report also be presented to the Transfer Committee, urging immediate measures against the implicated judicial officer.
These directives follow Justice Kumar’s earlier ruling on September 9, 2025. Acting on a petition from the Kancheepuram Superintendent of Police challenging the district judge’s remand order from September 8, 2025, Justice Kumar had invalidated the order and assigned Registrar (Vigilance) Jacintha Martin to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the police’s accusations against the judge.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Additional Public Prosecutor K.M.D. Muhilan informed Justice Kumar that the Superintendent of Police, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, and the judge’s former PSO had all given their statements to the Registrar (Vigilance). Muhilan also disclosed a crucial new development that emerged since the previous hearing.
Muhilan reiterated the police’s core accusation: Judge Chemmal allegedly pressured law enforcement to file a criminal case against his former PSO, R. Lokeshwaran, and Lokeshwaran’s father-in-law, who operates a local bakery. This pressure supposedly stemmed from the judge’s suspicion that Lokeshwaran was spreading false rumors about him. The DSP was then remanded simply for failing to arrest Mr. Lokeshwaran.
“Following this court’s inquiry order from the last hearing, it was discovered that the district judge had even coerced a Kancheepuram Food Safety Officer (FSO) to conduct a raid on the bakery,” Mr. Muhilan stated. He added that the FSO’s testimony had also been recorded by the Registrar (Vigilance) and requested the court to issue further directives after reviewing the full inquiry report.
After thoroughly examining the inquiry report, Justice Kumar affirmed that it corroborates the police’s allegations against the principal district judge. He also highlighted additional accusations, including the judge’s alleged coercive actions against a local pharmacy for refusing to dispense medication without a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner.
Consequently, Justice Kumar has instructed the Registry to present the inquiry report to the Vigilance Committee for the commencement of disciplinary proceedings. Additionally, the report will go to the Transfer Committee for prompt action, as it is deemed inappropriate for the judicial officer to remain in Kancheepuram given these findings.