Tamil Nadu Police Arrests DMK MLA's Son, Daughter-In-Law Over 'Assault' On Domestic Help

Upon learning about his son's involvement, I Karunanidhi distanced himself, asserting that they lived separately, and he was unaware of the allegations.

The arrest of MLA's son and daughter-in-law triggered a political dispute in Tamil Nadu

The police arrested the son and daughter-in-law of DMK MLA for allegedly harassing and mistreating their teenage domestic help over an extended period. Following the arrest, the couple was produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody.

The couple Anto Mathivanan (35) and his wife Maarlina (32) of Thiruvanmiyur were arrested on Friday. The couple was held after police interrogated with the domestic help. Authorities also conducted medical tests on the victim at the Government Royapettah Hospital in Chennai on Thursday.

“During the investigation, the 18-year-old said that she used to work in an apartment at Thiruvanmiyur and that the couple harassed and assaulted her,” a release said, as per PTI.

On Friday, an FIR was filed against Mathivanan, son of DMK MLA I Karunanidhi, and his wife Maarlina for allegedly assaulting and verbally abusing their domestic help from the Scheduled Caste. Upon learning about his son's involvement, I Karunanidhi distanced himself, asserting that they lived separately, and he was unaware of the allegations.

On January 16, the Government Hospital in Ulundurpet reported an 18-year-old woman with injuries, prompting a police team led by Neelangarai AWPS Inspector to investigate and visit the hospital.

“The special police team arrested Anto Mathivanan, S/o Karunanidhi, and his wife Maarlina, on January 25 and produced them before the court today and remanded them to judicial custody,” the release said.

The couple, who had been evading authorities since last week, was arrested from a hideout near Andhra Pradesh, according to various reports. After the couple's arrest, the Madras High Court, on Thursday, rejected their plea to expedite the consideration of bail applications at the Principal District and Sessions Court in Chennai.

The matter triggered a political dispute in Tamil Nadu, with the Opposition, including the BJP, pressing the police to accelerate the investigation into the accusations.