AP Mahabharathi, a Collector posted in the Mayiladuthurai district of Tamil Nadu, came under the scanner over his remarks wherein he blamed a 3.5-year-old victim of sexual assault of provoking the accused.
In a video that surfaced on social media, AP Mahabharathi was heard saying, “As per the report I got, the child spat on the boy’s face that morning. That may be the reason. We have to compulsorily look at both sides.”
“Prevention is better than cure. Parents must sensitise their toddler kids. We have to enhance the sensitisation, we can’t tell the toddlers, parents should do it,” he further claimed.
சீர்காழியில், மூன்றரை வயது குழந்தை பாலியல் வன்முறைக்கு உள்ளாக்கப்பட்ட சம்பவம் குறித்து மயிலாடுதுறை ஆட்சியர், அந்தக் குழந்தையின் மீதும் தவறு இருக்கிறது என்று முற்றிலும் பொறுப்பற்ற முறையில் கூறியிருக்கிறார். அவருக்கு, @BJP4Tamilnadu சார்பில் வன்மையான கண்டனத்தைத் தெரிவித்துக்… pic.twitter.com/OxoZTiEyC4
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 28, 2025
The district collector was seen contextualising the sexual assault on a 3.5-year-old child in Seerkazhi. After the video of his controversial remarks went viral on social media, AP Mahabharathi was removed as the collector of the Mayiladuthurai district.
He was replaced by IAS H. S. Sreekanth, the Commissioner of Erode Municipal Corporation. BJP leader had slammed AP Mahabharathi for his distasteful remarks in a post on Friday (28th February).
He tweeted, “The Mayiladuthurai District Collector has claimed that the 3.5-year-old victim also bears some blame in the horrific sexual assault case. On behalf of BJP Tamil Nadu, we strongly condemn his outrageous remarks.”
