Former Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on Thursday said it was reprehensible on the part of a group to spread false allegations against the DMK in connection with the handling of the child sexual assault case involving industrialist and Gem Granites founder Veeramani. He said no order was given during the DMK regime to protect anyone in the case.

In a statement, he said Mr. Veeramani had been arrested in the case and anyone who had connived with him or sought to protect him should not be spared, even if they held high positions.

“This is the stand of the DMK. The outcome of the case should deter anyone from committing such a crime in the future. It is my wish as a leader of the party, a head of a family and a man with a conscience,” he said.

Mr. Stalin said proper action had been taken without any “whims” in cases involving crimes against women and girls, charge sheets had been filed and the accused had been punished by the courts. “This is a truth known to the public. The DMK was under no compulsion to save anyone,” he said.

He also said the erstwhile DMK government had never sought to shield anyone, as was allegedly being done by the TVK government now. “Even though affected women have filed complaints against a TVK MLA and district secretaries, no action has been taken and there have been attempts to reach a compromise,” he alleged.

Mr. Stalin said the ruling party should stop the “reprehensible” act of using the tragedy involving young girls as a tool in a by-election and spreading falsehoods. “Getting justice will be the objective of everyone,” he said.