Tamil Nadu higher education minister refutes POCSO complaint over viral video
Press Trust of India | June 25, 2026 | 07:17 PM IST | 1 min read
Calling the allegations politically motivated, Viswanathan says he only provided first aid to students who collapsed during a marathon
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister Viswanathan on Thursday dismissed the recent POCSO complaint lodged against him, terming the complaint as politically motivated. The Congress member of the Vijay-led cabinet also claimed that the opposition is "indulging in cheap politics". "Yesterday I gave a statement. That is enough," the minister reiterated when reporters questioned him on the sidelines of an event here.
The POCSO complaint stems from a video circulating on social media and aired on certain national media, which was purportedly shot in a drug awareness marathon held on June 21 in the Melur assembly constituency in Madurai.
The video shows the minister interacting allegedly inappropriately with school-going girls estimated to be between 10 and 15 years of age. Viswanathan released a statement on June 24 strongly refuting the allegations that led to the POCSO complaint .
Also read Tamil Nadu: Chennai LKG fees highest in state; fee details of thousands of TN private schools public
He completely rejected the allegations of inappropriate behaviour, asserting that the DMK was levelling false charges against him with malicious intent. Clarifying his actions at the Melur event, the minister stated, "I helped girl students with first aid who fainted after running a marathon."
Follow us for the latest education news on colleges and universities, admission, courses, exams, research, education policies, study abroad and more..
To get in touch, write to us at news@careers360.com.
Next Story
]Featured News
]- At 7 IITs, 1,495 reserved SC, ST, OBC faculty posts vacant; IIT Kharagpur alone has 710, reveals RTI data
- In a first for NEET UG Counselling, costliest medical colleges slash MBBS fees up to 40% as seats go vacant
- ISRO communication and media scholar India’s sole representative from field in world top 2% scientists list
- Boomerang effect? Jadavpur bookstalls report fourfold rise in sales after Durga Puja attack sparks resistance
- Maharashtra NEET UG Counselling: HC refuses to let medical college hold own MBBS rounds, says plea ‘premature’
- NEET PG Counselling: At private medical colleges, deemed-university tag brings up to 1,471% fee hike
- ‘Didn't call police,’ IIT Bombay deputy director tells faculty members; prof questions response
- AI engineer builds app for blind students in higher education; over 1,000 use it to read in 30 languages
- ‘Teachers know…’: In Chennai govt schools, drugs move through classrooms, playgrounds – unchecked, unreported
- St Stephen’s terminates 2 assistant professors appointed during ex-principal’s tenure over irregularities