Vijay Accuses DMK of Cover-Up in Veeramani POCSO Case Ahead of Bypoll

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay launched a sharp attack on DMK chief and former chief minister MK Stalin over the sexual abuse case involving Gem Granites Chairman R Veeramani, accusing him of colluding with the AIADMK and demanding that he speak out.

Addressing a campaign for the October 6 bypoll, necessitated by the resignation of AIADMK's K Maragatham Kumaravel, Vijay said the state was asking what deal had been struck. "Stalin sir, open your mouth," he said, adding that the AIADMK too was silent and questioning whether there was an understanding to stay quiet on the matter. Kumaravel later joined Vijay's TVK and has been re-nominated.

Vijay said he had tolerated criticism of his own mother, but could not accept obscene remarks about the women of Tamil Nadu. He alleged that both the DMK and the "DMK family" speak in such a manner and that Stalin and his family enjoy such speech, which he said cannot be tolerated.

The case centres on Veeramani, who was arrested along with Shanti and her husband Mahendra Simhan in August in connection with allegations of sexual abuse of minor girls. The matter came to the police's attention in October 2025 under the previous DMK regime, after a child-rights activist approached the Anti-Vice Squad with a pen drive containing video footage purportedly showing a minor girl being sexually assaulted.

Vijay alleged that though a complaint had been lodged during the previous DMK regime, the entire crime and its history were buried. Police sources said that while an FIR against Veeramani was registered, he was not arrested during the DMK government and the case was closed, citing lack of strong evidence.

Recently, under the TVK government, the Special POCSO Court refused to accept the closure report and ordered further investigation. The alleged perpetrator was subsequently arrested, and police later said the survivor in the video had been traced and her statement recorded before a magistrate.

The investigation has since widened, with police telling the court that several other women who were allegedly minors when the incidents took place had also been identified and their statements recorded. Police have alleged that Shanti and Mahendra Simhan facilitated Veeramani's alleged offences.