The AIADMK has terminated from its membership A Nagaraj, an accused in the Pollachi sexual abuse case, from all party-related posts. The announcement came on Monday evening, after social media outrage on the possible involvement of AIADMK functionary in the sexual abuse of a college student in Pollachi.
AIADMK’s coordinator O Panneerselvam, and TN Chief Minister and party joint coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami stated in a press meet that the action was being taken for Nagaraj acted in a manner which is contradictory to the party’s principles and discipline. “A Nagaraj is being terminated from all posts including that of primary membership of the party for having behaving in a manner which would bring disrepute to the party,” read the statement.
தலைமைக் கழக அறிவிப்பு. pic.twitter.com/Y2YfpwGSpJ
— AIADMK (@AIADMKOfficial) March 11, 2019
A Nagaraj was arrested by the Pollachi police for allegedly threatening Subash* in relation to the sexual abuse of his sister, Priya*. She is also the complainant in the case.
Priya was befriended by Thirunavukkarasu and Sabarirajan through Facebook and was lured by Sabarirajan on February 12 to accompany him to meet his friends. In a car, Thirunavukkarasu, Sabarirajan, Sathish and Vasanthakumar sexually assaulted Priya and the men took her pictures and videographed her.
Sabarirajan and Thirunavukkarasu then began extorting money from Priya, telling her that if she does not pay, her video will be uploaded on the internet. After a few days, Priya narrated this incident to her brother Subash, who confronted Thirunavukkarasu and it turned into an alternation.
According to the police, after the fight, A Nagaraj came to Thirunavukkarasu’s defence, threatened and assaulted Subhash.
Subash then filed a complaint with the police, alleging that four other men – Senthil, Babu, Mani and one other Vasanthakumar – threatened him of dire consequences if anything was to befall Thirunavukkarasu. The police arrested the four men and registered an FIR against them under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 294(b) (uttering obscene word in public place), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 506(2) (Criminal intimidation) of the IPC.
Speaking to TNM about it, Pollachi DSP Jeyaraman said that A Nagaraj’s name was later added to the FIR and was arrested by the police. All five of them (who were booked for assaulting the brother) are now out on bail, he added.
The Pollachi police say that the gang of men have trapped and sexually assaulted many other women. Read our detailed story here.