Pon Manickavel: Rebel with a cause

Manickavel’s office in Egmore was abuzz with colleagues and well-wishers on Friday afternoon as news of him being appointed as special officer by Madras High Court to monitor all idol theft cases came on the day of his retirement.

He may not have to wear the uniform anymore but remains the man in charge of idol wing cases for some more time. “I will finish the cases as early as possible,” says Manickavel, all charged up to wrap up more than 120 cases pending in the idol wing within the stipulated time frame.

Seen as a rebel with a cause, Manickavel is one of the few who had to wade through an establishment which is allergic to reforms, innovation and changes. In a career spanning three decades, colleagues see him as an officer who refused to be a slave of the system, a trait that had irked many of his seniors in the past.

The police officer’s lobby, known to support each other during a crisis, had seen him as an untouchable because he refused to be a part of it. He stood and fought alone even when the adversary was the most powerful.

Some of his stand-offs are part of TN police legends. About two decades ago, when Manickavel was Superintendent of Police, Chengalpattu, he was tasked with quelling a protest by workers of a private factory against selling of the establishment to a businessman by his superior.

“But when Manickavel investigated, he believed that the workers were right and took action on the businessmen against the orders of his boss. It was something unheard of in the police department and earned him the wrath of top IPS officers,” said an official. Many expected him to vanish into thin air after his rebellious act and he was assigned one insignificant posting after another.

The most inconsequential among them was heading the Idol Wing of TN police. When Manickavel was appointed as in charge of idol wing, the strength of the unit was just over 10.

Over the years, he got at least 10 deputy superintendents of police and 18 inspectors for probing cases, handed over to him by the court. A native of Madurai, Manickavel made history by registering cases linked to thefts that took place decades ago and recovered idols from across the world, often with support from Interpol.

As he sits for his lunch on Friday amid calls that keep pouring in his mobile phone and landline, Manickavel says, “Do not take us lightly. We are probing every case and will be cracking them soon.”