Madras High Court dismisses Seeman’s plea to quash rape case

Madras High Court dismisses Naam Tamilar Katchi chief Seeman's petition to quash actor vijayalakshmi rape case, directs police to complete investigation in 12 weeks.

The Madras High Court on Monday (February 17, 2025) dismissed a petition filed by Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator S. Seeman, 57, in 2023 to quash a rape case registered against him by the Valasaravakkam police in Chennai years ago, on the basis of a complaint lodged by an actor. She had acted in one of his movies when he was a film director.

Justice G.K. Ilanthiraiyan refused to quash the First Information Report (FIR), registered on the basis of a 2011 complaint, and directed the police to complete the investigation within 12 weeks. The judge took note that a judicial magistrate had already recorded the statement of the complainant under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

In the petition, filed through his counsel S. Shankar, the NTK leader claimed the actor had withdrawn her 2011 complaint in 2012 but revived it in 2023 due to ulterior motives. Since the petitioner “was at the helm of his political career”, he did not pursue the matter further after the 2012 withdrawal but was suprised over police action in 2023.

“This court has to necessarily intervene in this issue and see that the investigating agencies do not act as per the whims and fancies of the ruling party. After the change of government, the closed complaint has been revisited without any authority of law only to satisfy the rulers,” his petition read.

However, Government Advocate (criminal side) K.M.D. Muhilan contended rape was a crime against the society and not just against an individual and therefore, the police must be given an opportunity to probe the circumstances under which the actor had withdrawn her complaint in 2012 and whether she had been lured with some false promises.

Concurring with the law officer, the judge dismissed the quash petition and said a detailed order would follow. He asked the Government Advocate to make sure the investigation gets completed within three months.