Tamil Nadu: Bail plea of ​​DMK MLA’s daughter-in-law and son rejected in the case of harassing a Dalit girl, know the whole matter

Police said that investigation is going on in this matter, the court accepted the police’s version.

Published on: 08 Feb 2024, 12:51 pm

Tamil Nadu. Chennai Principal Sessions Court rejected the bail pleas of DMK MLA I Karunanidhi’s son Anto Mathivanan and daughter-in-law Merlina. The two are accused of abusing and assaulting a Dalit girl who worked for them as a domestic help. After the matter came to light, a case has been registered against him under the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act. The couple had attempted to evade arrest and fled, but on January 25, Tamil Nadu police traced them in Andhra Pradesh and sent them to judicial custody till February 9.

In this case, the Principal Sessions Court had held the first hearing on the couple’s bail application on February 2. The hearing was then adjourned so that all concerned parties could file their responses. Judge Ali, who was hearing the case on February 6, accepted the police’s argument that the investigation was still ongoing and refused to grant bail to the couple. Reports say that they may now approach the Madras High Court for bail.

The victim was 17 years old when she started working as a domestic help at the residence of Anto and Merlina to save money to attend coaching classes for NEET. It is alleged that the girl was harassed during work. In this case, the girl’s family had also lodged an FIR in the police station. The FIR reveals that the girl was beaten, burnt with cigarettes and physically assaulted.

To hush up the matter, the couple had also threatened that she (the victim) should not reveal the abuse she faced while staying at the couple’s residence in Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai. Furthermore, she was allegedly forced to sign papers stating that she owed the couple Rs 2 lakh which ‘paid’ for her education and that she would pay for them for the next three years. Will continue to work.

The abuse came to light when she was admitted to Ulundurpet Government Hospital in Kallakurichi. The victim’s mother found cigarette burns and bruises on her body and face. The FIR lodged in this case includes sections 294, 324, 325, 506 (1), section 3(1)(R) and 3(1)(S) of the IPC.