DMK President MK Stalin on Monday charged the ruling party officials of trying to influence the police probe in the Pollachi sexual assault case so that the accused are let free.

Stalin said it also shows the lack of safety for women in Tamil Nadu for the past eight years under the AIADMK government.

He added that investigations into the sexual assault of young girls in Pollachi by a gang should be done without affecting the future of the victims.

He also said the videos of innocent victims crying for mercy from the sexual assaults is heart rendering.

On his part, PMK Founder S Ramadoss in a tweet said the news about sexual assault case in Pollachi is shocking and the perpetrators should be punished.

On February 24, a Pollachi-based woman registered a complaint with a local police station, alleging that four men-- Thirunavukkarasu, Sathish, Sabarirajan and Vasanthakumar-- sexually assaulted her in a car under the pretext of a friendly meeting on February 12. The Pollachi police then arrested four persons in this connection.

According to the police, the accused would befriend women on social media first. After gaining the girl's confidence, she would be invited to a secluded place and sexually assaulted which was also videographed.

Later the victims were blackmailed for money or for physical submission.

Thirunavukkarasu, when he was in hiding, released a video saying politicians were also involved and wanted the case to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

AIADMK MLA V Jayaraman denied allegations made by a section of Tamil media that his son was allegedly involved in a crime network that comprised politically-connected men who sexually assaulted and extorted money from college girls. Speaking to media persons outside the Secretariat in Chennai on Monday, Pollachi Jayaraman alleged that the issue was a conspiracy by the DMK. 

With IANS inputs