Pollachi sexual assault case: Tamil Nadu assembly speaker rejects EPS claim and confirms delay in filing FIR

CHENNAI: Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly M Appavu on Saturday rejected the claims of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami that there were no delays in submitting the PIT Pollachi sexual assault case. This followed a heated exchange between Palaniswami and the chief minister MK Stalin on Friday, and Stalin alleged a 12-day delay and summoned Palaniswami to produce evidence.
On Saturday, Appavu confirmed the 12-day delay following the sexual assault incident after reviewing the documentation presented by both Stalin and the AIADMK.
The rape victim’s family learned about the attack on February 16, a few days after it took place. The next day, those involved in the robbery were attacked and subsequently taken to hospital.
Appavu stated: “The police (at the hospital) obtained statements. It (sexual assault) was already known.
The survivor’s brother turned to the District Police Commander on February 19 and was referred to the deputy SP. He was only able to meet the officer on February 22, after which he was ordered to go to the Pollachi East police station. The FIR was finally registered on February 24 after obtaining the survivor’s signature.
“Since all of you (AIADMK members) came to my chamber this morning and said, ‘Let’s end this now’, I will present this to you as my verdict,” Appavu said.
Palaniswami was absent from the assembly during the ruling.