Chennai, Sept 23:
Law Minister R Nirmalkumar has accused the DMK of attempting to shield Gem Granite Veeramani in the POCSO case and questioned the party’s response to the issue.
Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Nirmalkumar said the DMK’s reaction to the case had raised questions. He also sought an explanation from former minister S Regupathy over his reported statement that the video connected with the case was unclear. The Minister questioned whether Regupathy had personally seen the video or was speaking on the basis of information received from others.
Nirmalkumar alleged that Veeramani, whom he described as a businessman with assets worth hundreds of crores, could have approached a âpower centreâ to evade action. He further alleged that the DMK had the political influence to help him escape consequences.
The Minister also drew a parallel with the Anna University sexual assault case. He alleged that the FIR in that case had been released in a manner that exposed and intimidated the survivor and that an attempt was subsequently made to suppress the investigation. He alleged that a similar attempt was now being made in the Veeramani case.
Nirmalkumar said Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was personally monitoring the case to ensure that the investigation remained impartial. He asserted that strict action would be taken against all those found to be connected with the case.
The Minister’s remarks come amid a political exchange between the ruling TVK and the DMK over the handling of the case. His allegations against the DMK were political claims made at the press interaction and remain allegations rather than established findings.
The case has also generated questions over the circumstances surrounding the investigation and the political responses to it. The government’s stated position is that the investigation should proceed without interference and that action should be taken against all those found responsible.