In a dramatic real-life chase that has drawn widespread attention, Head Constable M. Velmurugan clung to the roof rails of a speeding SUV for nearly 40 kilometres — about 25 miles — through the outskirts of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. The incident unfolded early on September 27, 2026, after a police team acting on a tip-off attempted to stop a Karnataka-registered vehicle suspected of carrying banned tobacco products. When the three occupants tried to flee the checkpoint around 5:45 a.m., Velmurugan climbed onto the roof and held on tightly as the driver accelerated away at high speeds. Highway patrol units eventually intercepted the SUV at Karumathampatti, ending the pursuit and allowing officers to take the suspects into custody.

Police recovered between 100 and 300 kilograms of gutka and other banned tobacco products from the vehicle, which was being transported from Karnataka toward Coimbatore. The three men, identified as residents of Rajasthan, were arrested, and the SUV was seized. Velmurugan emerged from the ordeal uninjured and later described the action as simply doing his duty. Video footage of the officer riding atop the moving vehicle circulated widely, with many comparing the scene to an action-movie stunt. Officials and the public praised the constable’s determination in preventing the escape of the suspected smugglers during the lengthy high-speed chase.