Tamil Nadu Collector Blames 3-Year-Old Victim For 'Provoking' Sexual Assault, Sacked

Mayiladuthurai District Collector AP Mahabharathi commenting on the POCSO case, which involved a 16-year-old relative of the victim, alleged that the victim provoked the crime.

Mahabharathi’s remarks came during a training program on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on Friday morning.

Source : X

Mayiladuthurai District Collector AP Mahabharathi was removed from his post on Friday following widespread outrage over his controversial remarks regarding the sexual assault of a three-year-old girl in the district. The Collector commenting on the incident, which involved a 16-year-old relative of the victim, alleged that the victim provoked the crime.

Mahabharathi’s remarks came during a training program on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on Friday morning. While addressing the recent assault in Seerkazhi, the Collector suggested that the victim’s behavior may have provoked the attack. "I got a report saying that the child spit on the boy's face. That may be the reason. So we have to look both ways," he said. His comments were widely perceived as an attempt to justify the actions of the accused, leading to immediate public backlash.

The alleged assault left the three-and-a-half-year-old girl with severe injuries, including a disfigured face and damage to her eye after she was repeatedly struck with a stone while resisting the attack. 

Mayiladuthurai Collector Transferred

Following the uproar, the Tamil Nadu government swiftly transferred Mahabharathi from his position. HS Srikanth has been appointed as the new District Collector of Mayiladuthurai. 

Tamil Nadu | Mayiladuthurai District Collector, A.P. Mahabharathi transferred following his controversial remarks in the case of the sexual assault of a minor girl. The officer had reportedly blamed the 3-year-old victim for provoking the accused.

H.S. Srikanth has been… pic.twitter.com/QUSOnXJ0n4

— ANI (@ANI) March 1, 2025

 

Tamil Nadu BJP Condemns Statement 

Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai took to social media platform X to condemn Mahabharathi’s statement. "Regarding the incident of a three-and-a-half-year-old child being sexually assaulted in Sirkazhi, the Mayiladuthurai Collector has completely irresponsibly stated that the child is also at fault. On behalf of @BJP4Tamilnadu, we express our strong condemnation to him," he wrote.

 

சீர்காழியில், மூன்றரை வயது குழந்தை பாலியல் வன்முறைக்கு உள்ளாக்கப்பட்ட சம்பவம் குறித்து மயிலாடுதுறை ஆட்சியர், அந்தக் குழந்தையின் மீதும் தவறு இருக்கிறது என்று முற்றிலும் பொறுப்பற்ற முறையில் கூறியிருக்கிறார். அவருக்கு, @BJP4Tamilnadu சார்பில் வன்மையான கண்டனத்தைத் தெரிவித்துக்… pic.twitter.com/OxoZTiEyC4

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 28, 2025