A legal complaint has been filed against Joseph Vijay’s Congress Higher Education Minister, K. Viswanathan, who is also the Congress MLA from the Madurai Melur constituency, accusing him of inappropriately touching minor girls during an official event. The complaint, lodged by lawyer Saranya Natarajan, has sparked a political firestorm and demands for a thorough investigation under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, as reported in Hindu Tamil Thisai.
Natarajan has submitted her petition to the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP), the ‘Singappen Padai’ (Women’s Police Wing), the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing, and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), urging them to register an immediate First Information Report (FIR) against the Minister.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on June 21 during an anti-drug awareness marathon held in Madurai Melur. The event was attended by numerous schoolgirls and young female athletes. Minister Viswanathan, present as a special guest, is alleged to have touched the participants on various parts of their bodies in an inappropriate manner under the guise of encouragement.
VIDEO | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: “Viswanathan’s behaviour with children was inappropriate, we registered a POCSO case; he should resign,” says DMK advocate Saranya Natarajan on viral video of the Congress minister.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/JYPMA2odsJ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 24, 2026
The complaint further alleges that the Minister deliberately touched, pulled, or gripped the shoulders, thighs, and legs of the girls on multiple occasions. Video footage from the event, which has since gone viral on social media, reportedly shows the girls exhibiting visible signs of mental distress and discomfort. The complaint notes that the girls were unable to resist immediately due to the Minister’s position of power.
Ms. Natarajan has also raised serious concerns over the circulation of the incident videos on social media, which clearly show the faces of the minors involved. She has called for action against those responsible for sharing the footage, arguing that it constitutes a grave violation of the children’s privacy and dignity.
In her complaint, the lawyer stated that a Minister, as a holder of public trust, engaging in such conduct undermines confidence in the rule of law. She has demanded that the law discharge its duty “impartially and uncompromisingly” in this matter.
Strongly refuting the allegations, Minister Viswanathan has issued a statement clarifying his actions. He explained that the marathon was held under intense heat, leading to several students fainting and collapsing during the 4-km run.
In his statement, he said, “An awareness marathon was organized in Melur, Madurai, against the use of intoxicants such as tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis and against sexual crimes targeting women. As hundreds of students participated in the 4-km run, some fainted and collapsed due to the intense heat. Acting out of humanitarian concern, I lifted the girls up and administered first aid by sprinkling water to help them regain consciousness. It is highly uncivilized for former Minister Anbil Mahesh to attribute ulterior motives to this action in a post made via the DMK IT Wing.”
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