DMK MP seeks EC action against Vijay, TVK minister over Pocso case remarks

DMK Rajya Sabha MP J Constandine Ravindran has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, accusing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and sports minister Aadhav Arjuna of violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and a Madras High Court order by referring to an ongoing Pocso case ahead of the Madurantakam Assembly bypoll.

The parliamentarian alleged that the two TVK leaders repeatedly made mention of the sensitive case, which involves granite baron R Veeramani, in "complete disregard" of the court's order during an election rally.

"The speeches were made in Tamil before large public gatherings. They were telecast by television channels and have been circulated widely on social media," Ravindran wrote in his complaint, seeking action in the matter.

He said the High Court had categorically asked TVK representatives to refrain from speaking in any manner that linked the Pocso case against Veeramani to the DMK, its leaders or functionaries.

The direction was issued on Friday, September 25, during the hearing on a defamation suit filed by DMK general secretary Duraimuguan against Arjuna, his fellow minister CTR Nirmal Kumar, and the IT wing of the TVK.

In his complaint, Ravindran also asserted that the remarks made in Madurantakam were also in violation of the MCC, which stipulates that criticism of other parties should remain confined only to their policies, programmes, past record and work.

The rally took place on Friday, the same day the High Court issued the direction cited by the DMK leader in his complaint to the EC.

Speaking there, Vijay had claimed that the Pocso (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) case against Veeramani, who is the chairman of Gem Granites, was "buried" by the previous regime under DMK president and then chief minister, MK Stalin.

Arjuna, too, had echoed the claim. Stalin has rejected the allegations.

VEERAMANI POCSO CASE: BRIEF OVERVIEW

Veeramani, who is over 80 years of age, was arrested last month alongside two of his accomplices in connection with sexual abuse of a minor girl in Chennai in the year 2019.

According to the police, the case was registered in October 2025 after an investigation team received a video clip that purportedly showed a minor girl being sexually assaulted by the industrialist.

The ongoing probe has led to the identification of multiple survivors who were allegedly sexually assaulted by him over the past several years, per the police.