Retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Totaram Dookhie has filed a lawsuit against the Commissioner of Police and the Attorney General, alleging victimisation, abuse of power, and constitutional breaches during his tenure with the police service.

He said there were attempts to derail major investigations into government officials and senior police officers.

Dookhie, 63, who served for 41 years before retiring in 2021, claims he was unfairly targeted after leading high-profile investigations, including those involving senior police officers and government officials.

Dookhie’s constitutional claim was filed on March 21 and details the investigations he claimed there were attempts to stymie. It also contends that he was forcibly placed on vacation leave, transferred without cause, and subjected to baseless disciplinary allegations that harmed his career and reputation.

Dookhie alleges that while leading the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB), he pursued investigations into corruption, firearm licensing irregularities, and misconduct within the police service. His lawsuit contends one particular probe led to immediate pushback, including attempts to stall or reassign his cases.

Dookhie claims he was later pressured, removed from his role, and his investigative files were reassigned.

He also alleges that he was forced to take six months of vacation leave in 2019, which disrupted his investigations, including one against former minister Marlene McDonald. Upon his return, he was reassigned to a position with no resources or staff.

The lawsuit details how, in 2020, police officers arrived at Dookhie’s home and arrested him in front of his family on charges of kidnapping and false imprisonment—charges that were later dropped. He claims this was an orchestrated effort to discredit him and that his arrest caused severe emotional distress to him and his children.

It also complained of a police press release after his arrest which implied he was under investigation for multiple infractions, further damaging his reputation. However, he insists that no criminal or disciplinary charges were formally filed against him before his retirement in 2021.

Dookhie is seeking general, special, and exemplary damages for lost income, pension reductions, legal fees, and medical expenses incurred for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, which he attributes to his treatment by the police service.

His lawsuit argues that his constitutional rights to protection of the law, due process, and fair treatment were violated. It also claims that his forced retirement at a lower rank resulted in financial losses, and his attempts to secure employment after retirement have been unsuccessful.

In an affidavit, Dookhie said demands were made for him to provide updates on his investigations but maintained his only concern was “to conduct an independent and proper police investigation and act in accordance with the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

He recorded these encounters in the PSB station diary.