Former ADMK Minister Manikandan has been getting into more trouble after a Tamil actress had filed a complaint of sexual harassment against him. Manikandan had served as the Tamil Nadu Minister of Information and Technology in the previous government and he was sidelined by the party in the recently-held elections and he is facing outrage over the sexual harassment allegations. However, the ADMK leadership is yet to remove him from the party. 

On May 28, 2021, a 32-year-old Tamil actress had filed a complaint to the Chennai Police Commissioner against Manikandan by alleging that the former minister had refused to marry her and threatening to kill her if she dares to speak about the illicit relationship. In her complaint, the actress had alleged that the former minister had refused to marry her after living together for five years. She further said that Manikandan had made her pregnant thrice and he forced her to abort the fetus all three times. 

Shantini further said that Manikandan has tortured her and threatened her that he will release their private photos and will hire mercenaries to kill her if she opens up about the relationship in the public. Based on her complaint, the Adyar All-Women Police station has registered a case against the former ADMK Minister under sections 376- rape, 313- causing miscarriage without women's consent, 323 -punishment for voluntarily causing hurt, 417- punishment for cheating, and 506(i) - criminal intimidation of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Information Technology Act. 

After knowing that a case has been filed, Manikandan had gone absconding after which the Chennai police had formed special teams and launched the manhunt to arrest him.  After incessant search and investigations, the special team of the Chennai police had arrested Manikandan on June 20 in Bengaluru, where he was hiding at his friend's residence. After arresting Manikandan, the Chennai Police had brought him to Chennai and after consent from the Magistrate Court, he was taken into judicial custody. 

Before getting arrested, his bail petition was dismissed by the Madras High Court and while he was initially lodged at Saidapet prison, he was later shifted to Puzhal Central Prison in Chennai. While the former ADMK minister has been under investigation, he has invited fresh trouble after the actress had demanded Rs 10 crore from him and she has also asked for monthly compensation from the former minister for her living, after she was left alone by him with a fake assurance that he will marry her. 

According to our sources, the actress had moved her petition to Saidapet court in which she has said, "I have filed the petition under the court's order of seeking compensation for the issues that arise during living together. I'm being suffering physically after I was cheated (by Manikandan) with a fake marriage promise. Manikandan had put me under mental depression and he has to pay Rs 10 crore for me as compensation. Moreover, he must provide Rs 2,80,000 as monthly compensation to meet my expenses from house rent to medical expenses as an interim solatium". It has been reported that her petition will be taken up for hearing by Saidapet court on August 5.