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The Karamadai police in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore district have booked three ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) functionaries, including the party’s Karamadai union secretary, for allegedly sexually harassing a 29-year-old woman party functionary and subjecting her to caste-based abuse and criminal intimidation.
According to reports, the accused have been identified as Karuppusamy (39), the TVK’s Karamadai union secretary, party functionary Sabitha (25), and her husband, Pandithurai (30). The complainant, who was serving as a panchayat-level secretary of the party, submitted a petition to the Coimbatore District Collector on November 12. The police registered a case against the three later that day. No arrests have been reported so far.
According to the FIR, the alleged harassment began after a meeting of panchayat-level secretaries convened by Karuppusamy on May 18, 2026, which was concluded around 11.30 pm. The woman, whose residence was around 15 km away, sought assistance to return home safely on her two-wheeler, and Karuppusamy allegedly accompanied her on the journey. The woman alleged that he sexually harassed her while travelling on the pillion seat, and she objected to his behaviour and rushed home.
She further stated that Karuppusamy removed her from her post as panchayat secretary after she rejected his sexual advances and appointed another woman in her place. He allegedly continued to harass her and made defamatory remarks about her character.
The woman has also alleged that she had brought the matter to the constituency TVK MLA N Sunil Anand’s attention thrice but was asked to provide proof of her allegations. She also alleged that Sabitha and her husband, Pandi, acting at Karuppusamy's instructions, abused her using caste-based slurs and threatened her and her family.
The Karamadai police have booked all three accused under sections 296(b) (uttering obscene words), 75 (sexual harassment) and 351(3) (aggravated criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Coimbatore District Superintendent of Police A Pavan Kumar Reddy has ordered a probe led by Mettupalayam Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Further investigation is underway.
