COIMBATORE: Another round of arrests in the Pollachi sexual assault and extortion case, barely four months before the assembly elections, has given fresh ammunition to opposition DMK.
Within hours after the arrest of three men, including the now sacked student wing functionary of AIADMK K Arulanandam, the women’s wing of DMK as well as women’s associations launched a protest in Coimbatore against the ruling party.
DMK president M K Stalin issued a strongly worded statement, laced with allegations against AIADMK ministers and senior leaders. Accusing the AIADMK government of protecting the accused, Stalin demanded that other suspects in the case should also be arrested. “CBI should dig deeper and bring to book all those involved in the scandal. At the same time, the investigating agencies should also ensure that those arrested do not get bail swiftly and walk free,” a statement said.
DMK women’s wing chief Kanimozhi said the allegations repeatedly made by DMK that more AIADMK men were involved in the scandal has been vindicated by the arrest of the AIADMK student wing functionary.
“When a woman, who attempted to create confusion at the makkal sabha meeting chaired by our leader was sent away by police, AIADMK men cried hoarse and said we are against women. Now, their men have been arrested for raping girls,” said Coimbatore east district secretary of DMK and Singanallur MLA N Karthik. Immediately after the arrest, photographs of the accused attending AIADMK functions in close proximity with senior functionaries started circulating on social media.
CBI had taken over the investigation from CB-CID in March 2019. CBI made the latest arrests after 20 months it took over the probe.
While four men, including prime accused Thirunavukkarasu, were arrested in February 2019, the fifth accused had surrendered in a court in March 2019.
The sex scandal was the main poll plank in Pollachi during the last Lok Sabha election and was cited as one of the reasons for the poor show of AIADMK in the segment, despite the goodwill enjoyed by then MP C Mahendran, who was fielded again. AIADMK men have started feeling the heat this time also.
“The issue might be raked up again by opposition parties during this election. AIADMK should have taken the decision of removing the accused long back. At least, they should have been asked to lie low instead of letting them participate in party functions,” said an AIADMK functionary in Coimbatore.