AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday questioned whether the Tamil Nadu police were not even aware of the basic procedure of non-disclosure of the identity of the complainants in sexual assault cases.
“How was the First Information Report (FIR) published online? Why was the identity of another person involved in the case [of sexual assault on the Anna University campus] not revealed? Suspicions of political pressure in this case are increasing. The case should be transferred to the CBI…,” he posted on social media.
Leaders raise questions
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss urged the State government to suspend the officials who released the FIR that had the identity of the complainant.
“Though two persons were involved in the case, only one of them has been arrested. Are the police attempting to protect the other accused and demoralise the complainant?..,” he asked. CPI (M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan condemned the police for publishing the FIR online. DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant, in a statement, questioned Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s silence in the case.
The Chennai Press Club expressed shock over the disclosure of the identity of the complainant by a section of the media. It is morally wrong and legally offensive to disclose identities of women and children who file complaints of sexual assault, it said.
However, Minister for Law S. Regupathy, at a press conference, said the State government had not revealed the identity of the complainant in the FIR.
“The government is not attempting to silence the complainant. Having trust in this government, she came forward to lodge a complaint and the government took action.”
Minister for Higher Education Govi Chezhiaan, speaking in Thanjavur, rebutted reports that claimed that the accused was a DMK member.
Published – December 27, 2024 12:18 am IST
