Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Alleges DMK Cover-Up in POCSO Case, Questions AIADMK's Silence

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Friday (September 25, 2026) accused the DMK of covering up a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against Gem Granites owner R. Veeramani. The case was registered when the DMK was in power, he said.

Speaking at a campaign meeting for the Assembly byelection in Madurantanakam (reserved for the Scheduled Caste), about 90 km south of Chennai on the Chennai-Tiruchi National Highway, Mr. Vijay asked DMK president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to "reveal what deal had taken place behind the scenes." He also criticised the AIADMK for keeping silent on the issue, asking whether it had an "understanding" with the DMK even on this issue.

Mr. Vijay alleged that the accused had been ruining the lives of young girls for many years, and though the case came up during DMK rule, it was covered up. The accused were now arrested, he said, adding that the victims were children. He asked what the DMK and the AIADMK were doing all these years if they could not speak about the children's pain.

At the meeting, Mr. Vijay canvassed votes for Maragatham Kumaravel, the nominee of the TVK-led Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance. He alleged that the DMK had been continuously spreading slander against the TVK and him.

Mr. Vijay said the reason for his success in the film industry as well as in politics was the people of Tamil Nadu, whom he considered his family. Because of that relationship, the TVK was able to secure 35% of the votes in the Assembly election and emerge as the single largest party in nearly two-and-a-half years of its formation, he claimed.

He also claimed that Mr. Stalin had spoken in a derogatory manner about former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and that the video was still going viral. Not only Mr. Stalin but also his family members and senior functionaries of the DMK had been speaking in a derogatory manner, and people were closely watching this, he said. While the DMK members were spreading slander, the AIADMK was supporting it, he alleged. Throughout his speech, Mr. Vijay referred to the AIADMK as "many others", barring one instance in which he named the party.

Having decided to join hands with those who had spoken derogatorily about Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK stood exposed and its "mask had been torn off", he said. Calling the AIADMK "a branch of the BJP", Mr. Vijay said it had now become a local unit of the DMK. He claimed that the DMK and the AIADMK had colluded and plotted to prevent him from coming to power.

On corruption, Mr. Vijay said, "The reason why I spoke about the history of corruption in the Assembly was to tell the younger generation where the source of corruption was. When I raised the issue of the history of corruption, the DMK said I was not even born then. So what? History would show their corruption. Through the DMK, corruption was already born. So what is the point of asking when I was born." He said whenever he spoke about corruption in the Assembly, the DMK asked him to produce evidence. Even when he produced evidence, the DMK said it had to be proved in court. If a counterargument was put forward, the response was that matters pending in court could not be discussed in the Assembly, he added.

He also recounted his first Assembly experience, saying he had clearly stated he would not talk about court cases, but the Opposition kept shouting. "As this was my first Assembly experience, I was initially confused about whether to speak when they shouted. However, I understood their intention that they did not want me to speak. That's why I had to shout so that my voice would reach the people," he said.

Mr. Vijay said he had developed a thick skin and had seen all sorts of slander for 34 years before entering politics. As Chief Minister, he had gone to inspect a bridge (Metro Rail viaduct at Kathipara), when Mr. Stalin said, "Why is Mr. Vijay standing on the bridge we built and shooting? Was that bridge built on Mr. Stalin's own money?"