A young woman from Tamil Nadu has accused her husband - a 40-year-old man associated with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam- of torture and sexual harassment, declaring "his job is to force 20-year-old girls to sleep with politicians" and that "he would bite me like a mad dog".
The woman - a 20-year-old college student from Arakkonam district - also said her husband, whom she identified as Deivaseyal, who claimed to be the Deputy Secretary of the DMK's youth wing, had threaten to set on fire her family members if she ever complained to the police.
"He assaulted me on the way to college... injured me and broke my phone. And he would say, 'if you complain nothing will happen as the police will support me'. Because of him I tried to take poison," she said in an appeal picked up by the main opposition, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
"His job is to torture 20-year-old girls to sleep with politicians... no action is ever taken against him. When I complain he threatens to cut me into pieces. He tortured me in the car and told me to sleep with the men he pointed to... I can't even leave my home. I couldn't take my exams," the woman said.
She also said her husband would "abuse me before everyone" and called on DMK boss and Chief Minister MK Stalin to act. "Otherwise, I will kill myself...." she said in her appeal.
The horrific allegations have prompted the AIADMK to accuse the DMK of shielding Deivaseyal, claiming the police initially refused to file a case because of his links to the ruling party.
AIADMK, DMK Trade Jabs
In a statement on X, AIADMK boss Edappadi K Palaniswami said the cops refused to act on the woman's complaint till the AIADMK's S Ravi, the local MLA, raised his voice on her behalf.
The police have said a preliminary inquiry indicates there is no evidence at this time to suggest sexual assault. In her complaint the young woman said she had been introduced to several men by her husband, and had presumed that she would be sent to each to perform sexual acts.
The ruling DMK said the police will act against the guilty, and that the party will take internal action depending on the cops' investigation.
AIADMK's Pollachi Sex Abuse Case Barb
Meanwhile, in his scathing attack on the DMK, Mr Palaniswami drew parallels to the horrific 2019 Pollachi sex abuse case, in which multiple women were raped by a gang of nine men between 2016 and 2018; they filmed these assaults and extorted money and sexual favours.
"For (DMK boss and Chief Minister MK) Stalin, who often cites Pollachi... Arakkonam is a sample of your chaotic rule. I transferred the Pollachi case to the CBI, but Stalin does everything to dilute this. Will this 'dummy dad' government act against the DMK functionary?" he wrote in Tamil.
ராணிப்பேட்டை மாவட்டம் அரக்கோணத்தில் திமுக இளைஞரணி நிர்வாகி தெய்வச்செயல் என்பவன் கல்லூரி மாணவியை ஏமாற்றி பிற திமுக "சார்"களுக்கு இரையாக்க முயற்சித்ததாக வரும் செய்தி அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது.
— Edappadi K Palaniswami-SayYEStoWomenSafety&AIADMK (@EPSTamilNadu) May 19, 2025
இந்த வழக்கில் FIR பதிய அலைக்கழித்த ஸ்டாலின் மாடல் அரசின் காவல்துறை, அரக்கோணம் தொகுதி கழக…
"I not, the AIADMK will lead massive protests," Mr Palaniswami warned.
The Pollachi gang was sentenced earlier this month to consecutive life sentences.
READ | DMK, AIADMK's 'Hang Your Head In Shame' Barbs In Pollachi Case
When the case broke, it was the AIADMK of Mr Palaniswami that was in power, and it was the DMK of current Chief Minister MK Stalin that was the primary opposition.
NDTV Explains | 9 Men, 8 Rape Survivors. The Pollachi Sex Assault Case
In both cases the opposition accused the government of a 'cover-up', declaring the police initially refused to file charges because a member of the party in power was involved.
The Pollachi gang included an AIADMK member who was later sacked.
With input from agencies
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
