Annamalai slams DMK over Anna University attack case, demands accountability – Tamil Nadu News

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has intensified the attack on the ruling DMK following the alleged sexual assault of a student on the Anna University campus, calling the incident “just the tip of the iceberg” and demanding accountability from both the police as well as the government.

“Tamil Nadu must once again become a safe space for women and children,” Annamalai told a press conference. “FIR leaks, shaming of victims: they have done everything a system should not do.”

The incident occurred on December 23, when a 19-year-old young man engineering student and his friend were attacked on the university campus. According to the victim’s complaint, the attacker brutally attacked his partner before dragging the victim into some nearby bushes and committing the crime.

The police arrested Gnanasekaran (37), a biryani peddler with a long criminal record, in connection with the case. The accused also recorded a video of the assault and used it to blackmail the victims, police said.

Amid public and political outrage over the case, The Madras High Court ordered formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three senior IPS officers to ensure a thorough investigation.

Rejecting the High Court’s observation that the case is being “politicized without genuine concern”, Annamalai, who flogged himself last week Protesting the handling of the case, he defended the BJP’s actions.

“I always believe that the fundamental job of a political party is to protest in a democracy,” he said. “In this case, I think the DMK spokesperson distorts the observation of the Madras High Court.”

The court also announced a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the survivor. However, Annamalai demanded that this amount be increased to Rs 1 million, citing the leak of the victim’s private data. He also demanded the release of a report of a committee on police reforms, which was appointed by the DMK-led state government but is yet to submit its findings.

“DMK is trying to establish the narrative that the victim was at fault,” the BJP leader alleged, reiterating the allegation that Gnanasekaran is a ruling party functionary. He lashed out at a DMK minister for allegedly visiting the accused’s house and eating there.

“No one is talking about (the accused) being a repeat offender,” the BJP leader said. “No one talks about the 20 cases against him. In 2014-15, there was a case of a similar nature against this offender. Why didn’t the police monitor him?

Annamalai questioned Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s silence on the case, bringing up the fact that he was a former member of the Anna University union.

“What did you do to make the university a safe space? DMK is protecting Udhayanidhi Stalin to protect his image as ‘CM material’ for 2026,” Annamalai charged.

The BJP leader also took aim at Chief Minister MK Stalin, accusing him of remaining silent on the issue. He accused the DMK chief of running a “draconian government” after alleging that members of the women’s wing of the BJPincluding actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar, were detained and detained in “cattle sheds” during a protest in Madurai.

Annamalai also questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s silence on the issue and asked, “Where have the paragons of Indian democracy gone? Why don’t you come to Tamil Nadu to visit the victim’s parents?