Rajkumar Pandian (RK Pandian) is an Indian Police Service officer. He came to attention over claims in the death of Sohrabuddin Sheikh. From 2016 he was Inspector-general of police in Junagadh, even while the Sohrabuddin case was in courts.[1] In 2018 the Bombay High Court upheld his discharge from this case.[2]
In 2007 Rajnish Rai arrested Pandian along with D G Vanzara and Dinesh M N related to the death of Sohrabuddin Sheikh.[3] In March 2014 Pandian got bail after having been in prison for seven years since his 2007 arrest.[4]
In April 2013 The Hindu reported that Pandian was found to be at his home during the time when he was supposed to be incarcerated.[5] The explanation seemed to be that Pandian was getting undisclosed and favored treatment to leave the jail.[5]
In 2016 Pandian held a position at the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation.[1] Following that position, he took a post as Inspector-general of police in Junagadh.[1] There was consideration in 2017 that he might take a post in the Ahmedabad crime Branch.[6]
In February 2018 Pandian claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation had framed him in the Sohrabuddin case.[7][8] In 2018 the Bombay High Court upheld Pandian's discharge from the Sohrabuddin case.[2]
In 2019 Pandian arrested cybercriminals who had stolen money from his wife.[9]
In 2019 Pandian expressed interest in reviewing criminal complaints about land disputes.[10]
In his role as a police officer Pandian has regularly given comment to the media on law enforcement. In 2018 he commented on a violent crime.[11] In 2020 he commented on enforcing COVID-19 quarantine.[12][13] In December 2020 he commented on the use of CCTV to monitor traffic safety.[14]