The Chennai Police has filed a case against the son and daughter-in-law of Pallavaram MLA and DMK leader Karunanithi for allegedly abusing an 18-year-old girl who used to work at their home.
The girl belongs to a scheduled caste and was preparing for the medical entrance exam NEET. She was working as a domestic help to be able to enroll for NEET coaching.
Police said that she had been working at the house of the DMK leader’s son for the last year. Doctors allegedly found injury marks on her and suspect that she was beaten up and also had cigarette burns, NDTV reported.
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In a video shared by Evidence, a non-profit organisation, the Dalit woman said she completed 12th grade and got employed as a domestic help through an agent. She was working at the house of Karunanithi’s son Anto Mathivanan and his wife Marlina in Chennai.
She said that her employers used to “physically assault” her in “whatever way they wished to”. She also added that she was not paid her wages.
The issue came to light when the girl was dropped off at her house during Pongal. Her family took her to a government hospital in Ulundurpet after they noticed she had injury marks on her body, India Today reported.
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Meanwhile, the DMK MLA denied the allegations against his family and said they were helping her study and also got her jewellery.
BJP’s Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai posted on X that it shows the arrogance of the DMK and called for speedy investigation.
“I urge on behalf of BJP Tamil Nadu that a speedy investigation be conducted immediately and action be taken against culprits under the Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act,” Annamalai posted on X.