In a strong statement issued on the X platform on Saturday, Tiruchy District Superintendent of Police V. Varun Kumar, an IPS officer of 2011 batch, announced his intention to pursue legal action against those responsible for online abuse targeting his family.
The IPS officer underscored his commitment to combating online harassment, emphasizing that such behavior will not be tolerated and that stringent measures will be implemented against the offenders.
Mr Kumar’s post detailed his previous actions, including filing a civil and criminal defamation notice against Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) leader Seeman. Additionally, he lodged a complaint with the Tiruchy cyber police against three NTK party members. Mr Kumar alleged that his family had been subjected to targeted abuse on social media by individuals affiliated with a specific political party.
In an 8-page statement shared on X, Varun Kumar revealed that after initiating legal proceedings, his family’s photos were misused and circulated on social media. He expressed suspicion of a political party’s involvement in the orchestrated online abuse. Kumar also identified 51 X accounts that he believes are linked to the party responsible for the harassment.
The statement further claimed that the obscene content was being disseminated by fake accounts managed by party organizers, from state to district-level leaders. Kumar alleged that these fake accounts were being used to post derogatory content, with instructions reportedly given to Tamil-speaking individuals residing abroad in exchange for payment.
In response to the ongoing controversy and personal attacks, Varun Kumar and his wife, Vandita Pandey – also an IPS officer from the 2011 batch and Superintendent of Police in Pudukkottai – announced that they would be taking a temporary hiatus from discussions related to the issue. Subsequently, both deactivated their X accounts.
This situation unfolds amidst a broader dispute involving Seeman and Varun Kumar, with both parties engaged in a heated exchange of accusations and counter-accusations.