A Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam functionary in Kanniyakumari was accused of sexually assaulting a college student who later withdrew her complaint, triggering severe political backlash and accusations of intimidation from opposition parties against the ruling administration.

A Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam functionary in Kanniyakumari was accused of sexually assaulting a college student who later withdrew her complaint, triggering severe political backlash and accusations of intimidation from opposition parties against the ruling administration.

A Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam functionary in Kanniyakumari was accused of sexually assaulting a college student who later withdrew her complaint, triggering severe political backlash and accusations of intimidation from opposition parties against the ruling administration.

A Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) functionary was accused of sexually assaulting a college student in Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu. However, the woman withdrew her complaint a day later and asked for the charges to be dropped, sparking allegations of intimidation. 

According to the police, the incident took place on Thursday when the student and her college friend were waiting for a bus while it rained heavily outside. The accused, who was later identified as Christopher, allegedly knew the victim’s friend and stopped his car to offer them a ride. 

Christopher dropped off the friend first and then allegedly offered to take the victim back to her place. During the journey, he forcibly stopped the vehicle and sexually assaulted the student before fleeing from the area. 

However, a day after the student registered a complaint against him, she submitted a written request asking to withdraw it. She reportedly added that “no action be taken against him.”

As the accused, L. Christopher, is a member of the TVK central district executive committee in Kanniyakumari, the sudden change in the student’s stance prompted allegations against the ruling party. TVK was accused of using their power, influence and holding to intimidate and pressurise the survivor into withdrawing her complaint. However, these allegations were not independently established. 

The development triggered a political whirlwind, with the ruling TVK being criticised by opposition leaders for the party’s response to the sexual assault allegations against its own functionary. 

DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi questioned Chief Minister Vijay over the lack of action regarding the case and alleged that TVK had become a “haven for criminals and sexual offenders". She also called for the survivor to be provided protection and demanded unbiased legal action against the accused. Kanimozhi warned that if the government failed to act, DMK would call for a democratic protest. 

The DMK’s women's wing also posted on X, writing, “It makes one wonder how many more sexual offenders the Chief Minister has brought into and kept in the party. In any case, without taking appropriate action against this offender and letting him escape, he will next take the stage, act all along, and preach sermons to the town!” They added a hashtag, calling for women to be protected from the ruling party. 

AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyam also critiqued the party’s functioning, claiming that a lot of recent sexual assault cases involved the ruling party’s members. “The lawmakers and the lawbreakers coming from the same party is worrying," he said.

Though TVK did not officially respond to the discussion, a party leader spoke to News18 on condition of anonymity, saying, “The law will certainly take its course. We have nothing to say if the survivor wants to withdraw the case. The party will take strict action against the accused, and we have done it in the past."

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