Pollachi Sex Offenders Sentenced to Life Imprisonment by Mahila Court, Verdict Triggers Political Bickerings

Coimbatore: Political party leaders including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin have welcomed the Coimbatore Mahila Court’s verdict of life imprisonment till death given to all the convicts in Pollachi sexual assault case.

The verdict of the Mahila court in Coimbatore found all the nine guilty of sexual assault and on multiple other counts.

In a post on X M K Stalin said: “Justice has been served for the atrocities committed by criminals including a sinister AIADMK functionary.”

“Let the ‘Sirs’ who tried to protect the group comprising an AIADMK culprit bow their heads in shame if they have any dignity,” he added.

The verdict comes after almost six years after the nine accused were arrested in 2019 and prosecution began. They were charged against sexual assault, gang rape and criminal conspiracy.

It may be recalled that the nine accused were arrested after it came to light that they had indulged in sexual assault, videograph and blackmail of young girls and women in the tinsel town of Pollachi, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu between 2016 and 2018.

However, the verdict triggered a bitter bickering among political heavyweights.

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami reacted to M.K. Stalin's comments on the matter that justice has been served for the atrocities committed by criminals including a “sinister AIADMK functionary.”

Tamil Nadu Opposition Leader and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami wrote on X : "It was my government that arrested the criminals. I did not try to save them like you. I ordered a neutral CBI investigation. Justice has been served today.”

“ You should be ashamed for going all the way to the Supreme Court against the CBI investigation into the sexual assault of a 10-year-old girl in Anna Nagar case, spending public money to appoint senior lawyers, and arguing against the justice that should have been given to the 10-year-old girl and her parents, “ said the Opposition leader.

“You should bow your head in shame because of the plight of women in your government who cannot even come out and the POCSO cases that are being registered every day," Edappadi Palaniswami said in a sarcastic remark.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party President Vijay in a statement said, "I hope the verdict will provide some comfort to the victims in this case. All the victims have faced the case with courage and worked to ensure that the culprits are punished. I express my heartfelt appreciation to them for this."

Justice delayed is justice denied. Therefore, the Tamil Nadu government should take steps to set up a fast-track special court to hear cases of sexual harassment and violence against children and women and to deliver verdicts within 90 days, he said.

The leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi party, Thol Thirumavalavan said that the party wholeheartedly welcomed this verdict.