Literally, the entire Tamil Nadu police machinery appears to be powerless, while the crime graph, dominated by sexual assaults on women, continues to rise, leaving law and order to fend for itself.
Over the last one month (December) alone, sexual crimes have been reported involving peers, neighbours, police personnel, teachers, kirana shop owners, auto drivers, teenage students and others.
Once known as a relatively peaceful state, Tamil Nadu is increasingly witnessing incidents comparable to those reported from West Bengal and Bangladesh, under the political model of governance of DMK and Chief Minister M. K. Stalin.
Meanwhile, political bosses, DMK government, remain busy with self-promotion, launching political attacks on the Government of India led by Narendra Modi, blaming it for their own failures. With the state heading towards Assembly elections in the early part of the next year, concerns are mounting.
Selected reported cases
December 20: Head Constable Sheik Abdulla Mohammed was booked for molesting a 23-year-old law college student on the Central–Coimbatore intercity train by inappropriately touching her. The victim filmed the incident on her phone and alerted the railway police, who detained the policeman from the train. He has since been placed under suspension.
அப்பாவின் @mkstalin கீழ் இயங்கும் காவல்துறையின் லட்சணம் வேலியே பயிரை மேயும் அவலம் 💦
மாணவிக்கு பாலியல் தொந்தரவு அளித்த காவலர் சஸ்பெண்ட் அடடா எவ்வளோ பெரிய தண்டனை🤦🏻♀️ pic.twitter.com/bVSLYrEj7H
— priya (@PriyankaSmile01) December 24, 2025
December 28: A juvenile (17) and a 21-year-old sewage treatment plant operator were arrested by Kelambakkam police for repeatedly raping an intellectually disabled woman over several months. When the victim’s mother took her to hospital for health issues, doctors confirmed that she was three months pregnant.
December 27: Thogaimalai police arrested Saravanan (22) under the POCSO Act for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a seven-year-old Class 2 girl student in Karur district. He reportedly lured the child with chocolates, took her nearly 8 km away from her home and assaulted her.
December 27: Ayanavaram-based businessman Nandakumar (57) was arrested in Chennai for secretly filming his female neighbour, a dentist, while she was bathing. The victim noticed a mobile phone camera pointed at her bathroom window from a neighbouring terrace.
December 18: A senior administrative officer, Ramamoorthy, and hostel in-charge Jhansi of Madha Dental College, Kundrathur, were booked for alleged sexual harassment and criminal intimidation. A 23-year-old first-year student stated that Ramamoorthy offered her a scholarship, which she declined. Jhansi later asked her to meet him. The student alleged that Ramamoorthy took her to an area without CCTV coverage, made inappropriate remarks and demanded personal favours, threatening to end her career otherwise. Jhansi allegedly deleted incriminating chats and videos and verbally abused the student. Police are currently searching for the accused, who are absconding.
December 15: Police arrested Joseph Paul (34) under the POCSO Act for sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl residing in a children’s home on Old Mahabalipuram Road. The abuse came to light after classmates noticed bleeding and informed a teacher. Doctors confirmed sexual assault. The registered home, functioning for over 20 years, has since been closed and 34 inmates relocated pending investigation.
December 14: Thiyagarajan (38), a Physics teacher at a government higher secondary school in Pudur, Thoothukudi district, was arrested under the POCSO Act for sexually harassing girl students during a study period outside the school. The headmistress, Annai Sheba Lite, was also booked for failing to act on complaints. Both have been suspended.
December 12: Hari (20), a resident of Otteri, was arrested for threatening and stabbing a 15-year-old Class 10 student after she refused to continue a friendship. The accused is reported to be a drug addict.
December 10: A 22-year-old woman from Vellore, who had come to Chennai to prepare for the UPSC, was sexually assaulted by Yogesh Kumar (23), who befriended her while helping her search for accommodation.
December 15: Police booked social science teacher Manivannan (55) of a government high school near Nallampatti, Dharmapuri district, under the POCSO Act. He allegedly sexually harassed a Class 9 girl student on November 27 and later attempted to suppress the case by offering ₹10 lakh through political intermediaries.
December 14: DMK youth wing functionary N. Karunakaran allegedly attempted to sexually assault his tenant’s wife in Thuvarimanai village. Neighbours intervened after hearing her screams. The accused reportedly threatened the couple before fleeing. He is facing multiple criminal cases.
These are only the cases that have been reported by police and the media. Several more, critics allege, remain buried due to DMK’s political pressure, influence or social stigma. Declining public trust in the police and the ruling establishment, they warn, is making Tamil Nadu increasingly unsafe for women and children, despite repeated attempts to flag these issues in the public domain.
