A head constable attached to the Otteri police station, Kothandapani, once again staged a protest in 2026, escalating his demonstration by attempting to burn a political party flag, in continuation of his long-running grievance over the medical condition of his daughter.
Kothandapani has alleged that his daughter was subjected to a wrongful medical procedure in 2021 during the DMK regime, and that no justice has been delivered for the alleged injustice suffered by her. He had earlier staged protests holding the DMK flag along with his daughter, demanding accountability.
During the latest protest, he raised a series of slogans, speaking to media, stating, “Dravida Model, this government has destroyed everything. For what happened in 2021, no solution has been given until now, crime after crime has been happening.” He further challenged the political leadership, saying, “Go and tell the Chief Minister, does he have the guts? Let’s see if you can say it — former Chief Minister!” Referring to electoral alliances, he added, “In 234 constituencies, with 25 parties, you have formed an alliance. Tell one person in your own constituency — just one person, just one person, let’s see if you can say it… that this child has been denied justice.”
During the protest, he brought his daughter along and made her participate in burning the flag. Police intervened at the scene, extinguished the burning flag, and restrained him.
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The issue traces back to April 2023, when Kothandapani’s daughter, who was undergoing treatment for a kidney ailment at Egmore Children’s Hospital in Chennai, slipped into a coma, which he has attributed to alleged medical negligence. Following this, on 15 August 2023, he staged a dharna with his daughter in front of the DGP office on Kamaraj Road, claiming that no proper explanation had been provided by the hospital regarding the cause of her condition.
According to Kothandapani, his daughter has been under medical treatment since the age of three, receiving medications prescribed by government doctors. He alleged that her relapse in 2021 was due to side effects of these medicines. He further claimed that due to incorrect diagnosis and improper treatment by doctors, the child developed severe complications, including blackening of her legs and serious blood clotting.
He also alleged that certain medications were administered to his daughter without his consent, which led to her suffering from fits, following which she was admitted to the ICU for further treatment. He has consistently demanded immediate action against the doctors he holds responsible for her condition.
Kothandapani further stated that even after a prolonged period, his daughter had not received proper treatment, and that the hospital neither explained nor investigated the alleged lapse. He said that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights examined the case and, after four months, issued a disability certificate. However, he rejected this, stating that he wanted answers for the alleged mistreatment of his child rather than a disability certification.
During his earlier protest in 2023, which lasted around 20 minutes, he was pacified by personnel from the Marina police station and taken to the police station.
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