Chennai: Beyond doubt, the Pollachi case is the most shocking and shameful sex scandal of recent times. But, it snowballing into a political row all of a sudden, that too weeks after the accused were arrested, has a loaded agenda behind it, especially with the Lok Sabha elections around the corner, it is felt.
While the Opposition, especially the DMK, is trying to seize an opportunity by launching protests and levelling charges against AIADMK leaders, the ruling party is playing it safe. From the local police, the Tamilnadu government transferred the case to CB-CID. Hours after that, it decided to go for a CBI probe.
“Kongu region (areas in and around Coimbatore) is a weak spot for the DMK and the stronghold of the AIADMK. Hence, in a bid to dent the ruling party’s image, the DMK is trying to paint a picture that AIADMK leaders are backing the gang which sexually assaulted women and videographed the acts. Based on a victim’s complaint, all the four accused were arrested already. The DMK originally demanded to transfer the case to CB-CID, it was done. Then it wanted CBI probe, that too was recommended. Now it is asking for CBI investigation monitored by the Supreme Court. What next? It may even demand an Interpol investigation,” says Rohinikumar, an AIADMK functionary.
Murugan, a DMK office-bearer, counters this. “It is an open secret that senior AIADMK leaders were in close contact with one of the accused in the case. We have evidence to prove this. Moreover, the AIADMK leadership itself has sacked him from the party after the incident came to light. We want a neutral probe and everyone involved in this scandal to be punished.”
A person who is close to the victim’s family, says, “Though many women were harmed by the gang, only one has filed a complaint so far. Politicising the issue will only prevent the affected persons from speaking out. It will be good if political parties refrain from involving themselves in the issue.”
Jayaganesh, a political commentator, says, “The DMK’s sudden aggressiveness and the AIADMK’s knee-jerk reactions clearly show that they are doing these in view of the elections. It is good that the case will be handed over to the CBI. Political parties should stay out of this now.”