CHENNAI: Asserting that Tamil Nadu was safe for women and children, Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday assured of “speedy investigation and submission of charge sheet within 60 days” in the Anna University rape case. In a bid to counter the AIADMK’s offensive on the issue, he gathered the Pollachi sexual assault case.
“The government will do everything possible to quickly try the case through a special court and ensure that the perpetrator receives maximum punishment,” he told the assembly.
Stalin’s criticism of the previous AIADMK government’s handling of the Pollachi sexual assault case during his tenure sparked uproar, with party members staging a strike.
Responding to a special attention motion on the Anna University rape case, the CM described it as “a horrible act”. “If the investigation reveals that there are more culprits involved, whoever they may be, strict and ruthless action will be taken,” he said, praising the police for acting quickly to arrest Gnanasekaran. With the opposition intensifying, the ‘who is this man?’ During the campaign, Stalin said the parties could provide any evidence to the high court’s special investigation team.
Responding to allegations that Gnanasekaran was a member of the ruling DMK, Stalin said he was just a party sympathizer. “We don’t deny it. He could have been photographed with ministers and politicians… whoever they are, even if they are DMK people, we will take action. There is no change in that position. He is a sympathizer and that is the truth. We didn’t protect it. “He was arrested immediately.”
Stalin accused the opposition of engaging in “cheap activities” for publicity and political gain in a sensitive case involving a student, and said his government would deal with it. crimes against women with an iron fist. “Many are trying to create a conspiracy theory using this incident to say that women are not completely safe,” the CM said. He added that surveillance cameras helped identify and arrest the accused and refuted accusations of inadequate security. On the leak of the FIR, he blamed the Union government’s National Informatics Centre, while adding that the state police addressed the technical issue promptly.
The CM accused AIADMK of inaction despite evidence from the Pollachi case, in which a gang sexually assaulted women for two years. The truth came to light only after CBI took over the case, he said. “The investigation clearly said that the incident was committed by AIADMK members. To protect them, AIADMK staged a big drama as if such incident had never happened.”