TN CM AIADMK hail Pollachi case verdict

    Chennai, May 13 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and main opposition AIADMK on Tuesday welcomed a local court sentencing nine men to life imprisonment till death in the sensational Pollachi sexual assault and extortion case.

    The Coimbatore Mahila Court, which convicted and sentenced the nine, also ordered compensation of Rs 85 lakh to the women victims.

    "Justice has been served for the atrocities committed by the wicked criminals including the AIADMK functionary," the Chief Minister said reacting to the verdict.
A former AIADMK functionary was among the nine people convicted. He was sacked from the party following his arrest earlier.

In a post on the social media platform, Stalin said, "Those sirs who tried to protect the guilty in the AIADMK should feel ashamed."
    Former Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami claimed that swift police action, especially in arresting all the criminals, and the prompt decision of his government in handing over the case investigation to the CBI for an impartial probe had ensured justice to the victims now.
    "All the offenders in the case were arrested during the previous AIADMK regime. Also, owing to the impartial probe by the CBI, justice has been rendered to the affected women today," Palaniswami, said on X.

    Wondering who should really hang their head in shame, the AIADMK leader alleged that the DMK had not initiated action on those responsible for the sexual assault on a woman student on the Anna University campus.

    “Who is that ‘sir’ you are trying to save, who should bow the head in shame?” the former Chief Minister asked.

    “If you have even a wee bit of conscience, then you should be ashamed of the plight of women who cannot even step out, and the (number of) POCSO cases being registered every day under your rule @arivalayam,” Palaniswami said.
    Hailing the judgment, the AIADMK accused the ruling DMK of "engaging in politics" in the case.
The party alleged in a post on 'X' that the current dispensation leaked the details of the Anna University college student who was sexually assaulted on the varsity campus last year.

    "We demanded a CBI probe to ensure justice for the woman student. But, this Stalin model DMK government opposed it. Who is the DMK trying to shield," the party asked.
    In the Pollachi case, the AIADMK government was the reason behind the arrest of the criminals who now got severe punishment, the party said.

"The AIADMK will expose the DMK when Palaniswami-led party comes to power in 2026. Then, it is certain that the DMK will hang its head in shame," it claimed.
    Actor-politician and TVK leader Vijay too welcomed the verdict and said the ruling would give solace to the victims, who faced the case with courage and ensured that the criminals were punished.

    Vijay demanded that fast-track courts should be set up to expeditiously conduct trial of sexual harassment or assault cases against women and judgment should be delivered within 90 days.

    All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) state committee member S Rajalakshmi and CPI (M) Puducherry unit, besides expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala hailed the Mahila Court’s verdict.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)