Additional Commissioner of Police, North, Pravesh Kumar and other officials at the site where historian ‘Thoppai Ganesh was shot dead in an encounter at Madhavaram in Chennai on March 16, 2026 | Photo credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Ganesh alias ‘Thoppai’ Ganesh, 38, a historian, was shot dead by the police near Madhavaram in the early hours of Monday when he allegedly tried to escape after attacking a police team that had surrounded him.
He is said to have been involved in at least 30 criminal cases, including five murders and a dacoity case reported in Puzhal recently. According to the police, he also had cases against him of murder, robbery, attempt to murder, Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act and Arms Act. Ganesh, also known as Dilli Ganesh, was a resident of BV Colony, Vyasarpadi. He was A+ Category History Recorder at MKB Nagar Police Station.
Published – March 16, 2026 10:11 AM IST
