Five individuals have been taken into custody in Chennai for their alleged involvement in a high-speed car chase, during which they reportedly pursued and intimidated a group of women in two SUVs—one of which displayed a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) flag. The incident, which occurred on January 25, quickly escalated into a political controversy, with the Opposition AIADMK criticizing the Tamil Nadu government under MK Stalin for what they claim is a deteriorating state of women's safety and law enforcement.
The main accused, Chandru, who was apprehended on Sunday, has denied any direct association with the DMK. In his statement, he insisted that the flag was displayed on the vehicle solely to bypass toll charges and had no political significance. He explained that the car in question had been purchased four months prior and was undergoing repairs for resale. Furthermore, he revealed that the accused individuals had planned a trip to Kodaikanal in February and that one of them, Santosh, had advised him to use the DMK flag as a tactic to evade toll fees.
The case gained traction after a video of the incident went viral on social media, showing two SUVs closely tailing and intimidating a car occupied by women along Chennai’s East Coast Road (ECR). As public outrage grew, the accused sought to clarify their involvement. Chandru maintained that he had no political affiliations, stating that while some of his maternal relatives were associated with the AIADMK, he personally had no connection to any political party.
Providing further details about the chase, Chandru claimed that Santosh had insisted the women's car had collided with theirs, although he had not personally witnessed any such incident. Acting on Santosh’s instructions, he blocked the vehicle in question. However, when the women refused to stop and instead began filming the encounter before reversing toward their residence, Chandru and his group continued to follow them. It was only later that Santosh admitted they had mistakenly targeted the wrong car.
In response to the controversy, DMK Organisational Secretary RS Bharathi accused the AIADMK of attempting to shift blame onto the ruling party. He asserted that Chandru was, in fact, affiliated with the AIADMK and that his car had been seized as evidence. Additionally, he pointed out that the second vehicle involved in the chase, a Thar, was reportedly owned by the brother of the Nilgiris AIADMK Secretary. Bharathi further alleged that AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami was deliberately trying to implicate the DMK in crimes committed by AIADMK members to tarnish the ruling party's reputation.
As investigations continue, the case remains a focal point of political debate in Tamil Nadu, with both parties engaging in a blame game while law enforcement works to ascertain the full details of the incident.
