The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday shunted Director General of Police I K Govind and Home Commissioner Sheela Rani Chunkath from their posts.
The move is widely seen as a result of the Supreme Court granting bail to Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati in the Sankararaman murder case.
A X Alexander, who was only 19 days ago appointed DGP (Intelligence), is now the DGP in place of Govind.
State's Principal Resident Commissioner Pavan Raina has been appointed the new Home Commissioner in place of Chunkath, who has been shifted as Health Secretary.
There was no reason given for the transfers and new appointments, which have come two days after the Supreme Court was critical of the Tamil Nadu police saying it had gathered "no evidence or material" against the Sankaracharya
in the murder case.
Chunkath took over as Home Commissioner six months ago from Syed Muneer Hoda, who was suspended after he had recommended that Coimbatore-blast accused Abdul Nasir Madhani, lodged in a prison, be shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Govind has now been made the head of the Police Housing Corporation.