It was certainly an unusual sight for a wedding. He was neither a film star nor a politician. But, for people who were invited for the reception his daughter in Tiruvanmiyur, inspector general of police AG Ponn.Manickvel was nothing less of an idol. The officer was the head of idol wing which had been in the limelight of late.

Such was the rush to get selfies clicked with him that the officer had to excuse himself and move to the side of the stage as the newly-weds stood patiently at the centre. Even that, seemed like an uphill task as other guests kept dragging him towards the couple to click photographs.

Ponn. Manickavel made the headlines after he initiated arrests of antique smugglers and started taking action on Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department officials suspecting connivance. 

His actions, of course, didn’t go well with the state government, which transferred all the idols wing cases to CBI. It was then that the courts intervened and asked the government not to transfer the cases to CBI.

While it may be true that the state government and his superiors are not quite supportive of his endeavours, but he had certainly changed an obscure police unit into a popular wing. And, his face — sporting a signature pointed moustache —  has become of the symbol of the idol wing. One thing was clear from people who attended the marriage of his daughter — they simply adore him.