A Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader in Kanyakumari has been accused of sexually harassing a college student after offering her and another woman a lift in his car on the pretext of helping them get home amid rain. The Tamil Nadu police have registered a case against the accused.
The alleged incident took place when the two students, who were returning from college in Nagercoil, were waiting for a bus. The man, Christopher, a member of the TVK central district executive committee, offered them a lift, saying he was heading in the same direction.
After dropping the other woman, a fellow TVK functionary, Christopher told the student, "I am going to Kulashekaram anyway, I will drop you off there," and continued the journey with her, the complaint said.
However, while on the way, he stopped the car amid the rain and sexually harassed the student before fleeing the spot.
The student is pursuing her second-year MA degree, while the other woman also studies at the same college. The two are friends and usually commute together.
The Tamil Nadu police have registered a case in connection with the alleged incident and are following up on the matter.
DMK TARGETS VIJAY
The incident triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties, with the DMK questioning what action Chief Minister and TVK leader Vijay would take against the party functionary accused of sexually harassing the student.
DMK MP Kanimozhi Rajathi Karunanidhi questioned the Chief Minister's response to the allegations and demanded protection for the student and impartial legal action against the accused.
"What action is Chief Minister Vijay going to take against his party official who is accused of sexually harassing a college student in Kanyakumari?" she said.
Accusing TVK of harbouring people facing criminal allegations, Kanimozhi said the party had "simply become a tent filled with history-sheeters and sex offenders".
She also urged Vijay to examine the people inducted into his party before advising the public. Calling for the affected student to be protected and legal action to be taken impartially, she warned that the opposition would resort to democratic protests along with the public if the demands were not met.
The party also targeted the TVK government, accusing party functionaries of being involved in incidents ranging from drug trafficking to sexual harassment.
In a post on X, DMK questioned whether membership in the ruling party had become a "license" to commit crimes, pointing to allegations of sexual harassment by TVK functionaries.
"Whose control is the police force actually under?" the DMK asked, targeting CM Vijay, who holds the home department portfolio.
AIADMK QUESTIONS VIJAY'S CREDENTIALS AS CM
The AIADMK also attacked Vijay over the allegations against the TVK functionary, questioning whether the party could be considered a political organisation or a "den of perverts".
In a post on X, the AIADMK said a Chief Minister who could not protect women from alleged wrongdoing by members of his own party had no qualification to continue in office.
"Someone who lacks the capability to protect Tamil Nadu women from his own party executives has not even an iota of qualification to continue in the post of Chief Minister," the party said.
The TVK has not yet officially commented on the allegations or the action taken against its district-level functionary.
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