DMK president M.K. Stalin on Friday expelled former Perambalur district panchayat member S. Selvakumar, 47, from the party, after he was arrested by the Perambalur police on Thursday for assaulting a woman at a beauty parlour.
Although the assault took place last month, it came to light only after a video clip containing visuals from a closed circuit television camera installed inside the parlour was shared on social media.
In the video, he is seen repeatedly kicking S. Sathya, 40, with whom he had a monetary dispute.
Mr. Stalin in a Facebook post said: “He [Selvakumar] has been removed from the primary membership of the party for violating party discipline and bringing disrepute to the party. The party will not allow unruly behaviour of cadres”
In August, Mr. Stalin had removed youth wing leader Yuvaraj from the party for attacking workers at a biriyani joint in Valasarawalkam in Chennai. The DMK leader also visited the joint and consoled the owner.
“Misbehaving with women, rowdyism, intimidating the public and taking law into hand will not be tolerated. Action will be taken against them, irrespective of their position. Party is above individuals,” Mr. Stalin said.
The Perambalur police had booked Mr. Selvakumar under IPC sections 294 (b) (uttering obscene words in public place), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (assault or criminal force to women with intent to outrage her modesty), 506(i) (criminal intimidation) and under Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Harassment Act.
Earlier, on Thursday, DMK general secretary K. Anbazhagan had issued a statement saying that the accused was suspended from the party.