EPS says probe was hastened to protect 'sir', Stalin dubs oppn narrow-minded

Chennai: War of words between DMK and opposition parties over Anna University rape case continued on Monday, even after the Mahila court sentenced A Gnanasekaran to life imprisonment.

Calling opposition parties ‘narrow-minded', Stalin said in a social media post that the opposition parties were still playing politics in the issue. "Even the court has appreciated that the police did a tremendous job in investigating the case. But the opposition parties are trying to do politics even now," he said.

While Stalin said the investigation was completed and the verdict delivered within five months due to efficiency of police and prosecution, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami alleged that the investigation was done in haste to project Gnanasekaran as the only culprit. EPS reiterated that Gnanasekaran was not the only person involved in the case and that there was a ‘sir' involved in the crime.

"Who was the sir mentioned in the FIR? Why was the involvement of the sir ruled out during the trial? Why did the DMK govt rush to close the case by saying that only Gnanasekaran is guilty? Who saved the ‘sir'," EPS asked.

The former CM said that these questions will not remain unanswered for long. "Once AIADMK forms govt, all the questions will be answered," he said.

BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran too raised similar questions, though he welcomed the judgment. "There are strong doubts in the minds of people that there is a ‘sir' involved in the case and the investigation was carried out hastily to protect an important DMK functionary," Nainar said.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss too questioned the involvement of another person in the case and urged the state govt to appoint efficient advocates if Gnanasekaran appeals in the Supreme Court. He also demanded the govt pay a compensation of 50 lakh to the rape survivor.

However, TNCC president Selvaperunthagai defended the DMK govt stating that only AIADMK and BJP should reveal who the ‘sir' is. "Telecom department is with the BJP govt at the Centre. Hence, BJP can prove whether Gnanasekaran called someone else by checking his call records. Without providing proof, both BJP and AIADMK are politicising issue," Selvaperunthagai said.