EPS calls Vijay's Veeramani arrest claim a 'blatant lie' at Madurantakam bypoll rally
Synopsis
AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami has flatly called Tamil Nadu CM Vijay's claim on the Veeramani arrest a fabrication, arguing it was a court order — not the government — that triggered the action. With bypolls ten days away, the Veeramani case and a string of alleged broken promises are shaping up as the AIADMK's main electoral ammunition against defectors who switched to TVK.
Key Takeaways
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K.
Palaniswami called CM C.
Joseph Vijay's claim on the 'Gem' Veeramani arrest a 'blatant lie' on 26 September 2026 .
Palaniswami alleged it was court intervention, not government action, that led to Veeramani's arrest in a minor sexual abuse case; the claim could not be independently verified.
He alleged two ministers attended events associated with Veeramani and that the Food Minister called him a family friend, presenting no documentary evidence.
He campaigned at Madurantakam urging voters to back AIADMK candidate Ganitha Sampath ahead of the 6 October bypolls.
He alleged the government borrowed ₹40,000 crore in four months and questioned a proposed ₹10 crore expenditure on a Chief Minister's office.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday, 26 September 2026, accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay of deliberately misleading the public over the arrest of granite businessman 'Gem' Veeramani, who faces allegations of sexual abuse of minors. Speaking at L. Endathur in Madurantakam, Palaniswami described Vijay's claim of having secured the arrest as 'a blatant lie.'
What Palaniswami Alleged on the Veeramani Arrest
According to Palaniswami, the case against Veeramani was registered under the previous DMK government and was already moving through court proceedings before the current administration took credit for it. He claimed that prosecutors had on multiple occasions sought additional time during hearings, and again requested an extension when directed to submit a final report on 3 August. In Palaniswami's account, it was the court's own intervention — not government initiative — that ultimately led to the arrest. His version of the proceedings could not be independently verified.
He further alleged that two ministers had attended events associated with Veeramani, and claimed the Food Minister had described the businessman as a family friend. He accused the Vijay government of shielding the accused while publicly projecting a tough stance on crimes against children. He presented no evidence at the rally of ministerial interference in the investigation.
Rally Context: Madurantakam and Dharapuram Bypolls
This was the second consecutive day of campaigning by Palaniswami ahead of the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls scheduled for 6 October. He urged voters to reject former legislators who had resigned from the AIADMK and joined TVK, calling them betrayers of voters and party workers who had invested in their election victories. He specifically asked residents to support AIADMK candidate Ganitha Sampath under the two leaves symbol.
Palaniswami's Broader Charges Against the Vijay Government
The AIADMK leader trained his fire on what he described as a series of broken promises by the Vijay administration. He alleged the government had failed to deliver on pledges of financial assistance, enhanced old-age pensions, and payments owed to unemployed graduates, farmers, powerloom workers, and handloom workers. He challenged the Chief Minister to name a single major programme delivered since taking office.
Palaniswami also alleged the government had borrowed ₹40,000 crore in just four months and questioned a proposed expenditure of ₹10 crore on an office for the Chief Minister — contrasting both with the record of AIADMK-led governance.
What Happens Next
The bypolls on 6 October will serve as an early electoral test for the Vijay-led government and a gauge of the AIADMK's organisational resilience in constituencies where its own former legislators defected. The outcome is being watched as an indicator of voter sentiment on both governance delivery and the defection controversy.
Point of View
But the Veeramani angle gives it unusual sharpness: accusing a sitting government of taking credit for a court-ordered arrest in a child abuse case is a high-stakes moral charge, not just political point-scoring. That said, his own claim that ministers attended Veeramani's events — offered without supporting evidence at a campaign rally — is exactly the kind of unverified allegation that benefits from journalistic scrutiny before amplification. The ₹40,000 crore borrowing figure and broken-promises refrain are familiar AIADMK talking points, but the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls will test whether voters see defection as betrayal or a legitimate political choice — the real story the October 6 results will tell.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Edappadi Palaniswami say about the Veeramani arrest?
Palaniswami claimed that the arrest of granite businessman 'Gem' Veeramani was driven by court intervention, not by the Vijay government's initiative, calling the Chief Minister's claim to have secured the arrest 'a blatant lie.' He said the case was registered under the previous DMK government and that prosecutors had repeatedly sought extensions before the court stepped in. His account could not be independently verified.
Who is 'Gem' Veeramani?
'Gem' Veeramani is a granite businessman in Tamil Nadu who was arrested in a case involving allegations of sexual abuse of minors. The case has become politically contentious, with the AIADMK and the ruling TVK government trading accusations over who deserves credit or blame for how it was handled.
What are the Madurantakam and Dharapuram bypolls about?
The Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls are scheduled for 6 October 2026. They were triggered after sitting legislators resigned and joined the TVK party, making them an early test of public sentiment toward both the Vijay government's performance and the defectors' decision to switch allegiances.
What financial allegations did Palaniswami make against the Vijay government?
Palaniswami alleged that the government borrowed ₹40,000 crore in just four months and questioned a proposed ₹10 crore expenditure on a new office for the Chief Minister. He also accused the administration of failing to fulfil promises on old-age pensions, graduate unemployment allowances, and payments to farmers and textile workers.
What is the AIADMK's position on the defecting legislators?
Palaniswami called the former AIADMK legislators who resigned and joined TVK betrayers of their voters and party workers. He urged constituents in Madurantakam and Dharapuram to vote for AIADMK candidate Ganitha Sampath under the two leaves symbol, framing the bypoll as a chance to hold defectors accountable.
