DMK asks Madras High Court to have SIT question Tamil Nadu leaders in POCSO case

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has approached the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the special investigation team investigating the R. Veeramani case to question Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Ministers Aadhav Arjuna and C.T.R.

Nirmal Kumar. The case concerns allegations under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The DMK, represented by its treasurer T.R.

Baalu, wants the all-women SIT to act on a representation submitted on September 27 seeking the three leaders’ summons. In an affidavit, Baalu said anyone with information about the case had a duty to share it with investigators. He alleged that the Chief Minister and ministers had instead made public comments accusing the previous DMK government of shielding the main accused.

Baalu argued that failing to provide information in their possession could amount to concealment of an offence. He said the SIT was obliged to summon the leaders and obtain any relevant evidence they might hold. The representation also asked investigators to examine the source of the information behind the leaders’ statements and whether they had access to investigation-related material that should not have been available to them.

The DMK treasurer contended that the statements could not be treated simply as political comments because they concerned an ongoing investigation into a serious alleged offence involving numerous child victims. The supplied material records the DMK’s claims and request to the High Court, but does not state that the court has issued a decision on the petition or provide responses from the Chief Minister, the ministers or the SIT.