TVK MLA Arul Vignesh on Tuesday denied allegations raised by DMK MP Kanimozhi that he sent obscene WhatsApp messages to the Kallakurichi District Collector and harassed her, dismissing the claims as rumours and accusing her of playing dirty politics. Vignesh stated that he had done nothing wrong and questioned how he could have even entered the Collector s residence, pointing out that the property is heavily guarded by security personnel and equipped with closed-circuit television cameras.
Everyone came to know of the rumours, Vignesh remarked, representing the Kallakurichi constituency. He maintained that the claims were entirely untrue and reiterated that the Collector s bungalow features constant security and surveillance that would make such an intrusion impossible. He further expressed a willingness to undergo testing to prove his innocence, though he did not specify the exact nature of the test, and urged political opponents to avoid engaging in misinformation.
The legislator went on to claim that the circulating reports were manufactured by the ruling DMK party s IT wing as part of a targeted campaign. He emphasized that elected officials are dedicated to public service rather than answering unfounded social media gossip.
Vignesh s public denial followed a social media post published on Monday by DMK MP Kanimozhi, who drew attention to claims spreading online. Kanimozhi s post referred to allegations that the MLA had transmitted inappropriate text messages to Kallakurichi District Collector JE Padmaja, arrived at the official residence in an intoxicated state, and subjected her to harassment, prompting the assignment of a dedicated security officer.
In response to the controversy, Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Rajmohan announced on Tuesday that the state would handle the matter through a thorough and impartial investigation. He stated that formal proceedings would commence as soon as an official complaint is received by the authorities.
Under the current administration, any serious accusation brought against an individual will face a rigorous inquiry and unyielding action, Rajmohan told reporters. He added that the government maintains a zero-tolerance stance toward harassment irrespective of political ties or official status, promising that strict legal consequences will follow if the accusations are ultimately substantiated.