Obituary: Former Tamil Nadu DGP and Social Leader V. Vaikunth Passes Away in Chennai

Shri V. Vaikunth, IPS (Retd.), former Director General of Police (DGP) of Tamil Nadu, passed away this evening, July 10, 2026, at his residence on Bishop Garden Avenue, R.A. Puram. He was 89.

A Distinguished Legacy in Policing

Shri Vaikunth was widely respected as an upright, disciplined, and visionary officer who served the Tamil Nadu Police with distinction for over three and a half decades. His exemplary service earned him the prestigious President`s Police Medal on seven occasions.

Even after retiring from service, his passion for police reforms remained unwavering. He authored the acclaimed book, An Eye to Indian Policing – Challenge & Response, published in both English and Tamil, which continues to serve as a valuable resource on modern policing and police administration.

Dedicated to Social Causes

Following his retirement, Shri Vaikunth devoted himself to community service and philanthropy. He served as the Charter President of the Rotary Club (Rtn PP Vaikunth Venkatachari) and led several civic welfare initiatives.

His post-retirement work focused on:

• Juvenile Reformation: Worked closely to rehabilitate and mentor juvenile offenders.
• Prison Reforms: Advocated for humane prison conditions and improved rehabilitation programs.
• Road Safety: Launched multilingual road safety awareness campaigns across Chennai.

Shri Vaikunth is survived by his family, friends, and a vast network of police officers and Rotarians who admired and respected his lifelong commitment to public service and social welfare.