A sub-inspector of police (SI) attached to the Mahalingapuram station in Pollachi was arrested by the rural police on Saturday for reportedly indulging in extortion and criminal intimidation while handling the case of murder of a youth at a rehabilitation home in Pollachi recently.

The SI, Navaneethakrishnan (27), who had joined the police service in 2021, had reportedly obtained ₹1.72 lakh in cash and 18 sovereigns of gold jewelry from the family of a trustee of the rehabilitation home, Kavitha, in lieu of not involving her husband Lakshman, and two daughters Shreya and Shruthi in the murder case.

Navaneethakrishnan could not succeed in his attempt as the case was closely monitored by senior officials

The four members of the family were among 11 persons arrested by the Mahalingapuram police for murdering S.R. Varunkanth (24) of Karavali Mathappur, at the rehabilitation home for persons with intellectual disabilities at Rathinasabapathy Puram near Pollachi on May 12.

The body of the youth was buried by the accused persons surreptitiously in a private property of the trust at S Nagore near Nadupuni, located about 20 km away from the home.