AIADMK chief hits out at TVK govt over Theni jailbreak, alleges total collapse of law & order

Chennai: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday lashed out at the ruling TVK-led administration in Tamil Nadu following the escape of 17 prisoners from the Theni district sub-jail, calling it a proof of complete collapse in governance and law and order.

In a statement posted X, the former Chief Minister targeted the administration and the ministers handling critical portfolios, highlighting severe administrative lapses across multiple departments under single ministerial oversight.

"Reports of 17 prisoners escaping from the Theni district jail were shocking", he said.


With the Law Department already facing public embarrassment due to alleged corruption in lawyer appointments and strict rebukes from the judiciary and the Energy Department completely "dysfunctional" due to power cuts and corruption in procurement, the Prison Department has now joined the "list of failures," he said.

"The ultimate highlight is that a single minister (R Nirmal Kumar) is in-charge of all three departments", he said.

The entire state was laughing at the administrative performance of the minister, "who seems perpetually obsessed with microphones and muttering praises of AIADMK even in his sleep. What an absolute disgrace", he alleged.

The government should have stepped up security across Tamil Nadu's prisons when two inmates previously escaped from the Puzhal Central Prison, he said. "But neither this government nor the minister seem to have time for such responsibilities".

Pointing out that the Chief Minister C Vijay Joseph even conducted an inspection at the Puzhal Jail, Palaniswami asked, "is this the state of the prison department even after your review? Was it genuinely an inspection, or was it an astrological ritual as reported by certain media outlets."

"If prisons are in such a state that convicts can assault guards and escape at will, how can common citizens expect safety on the streets under this directionless regime?, he said.

Escalating homicides, rising crimes against women, drug trafficking involving ruling party functionaries, mysterious disappearances of children, and convicts breaking out of prisons were being witnessed.

"It wouldn't be surprising if the rulers of today bundle all these failures together and release a '150-Day Success Souvenir'!, he said.

"I urge this government to immediately recapture the escaped prisoners and focus properly on maintaining law and order across Tamil Nadu," he added.