A shocking video from Tamil Nadu’s Villupuram district has sparked public anger and political backlash, showing a Scheduled Caste government official falling at the feet of a ruling DMK councillor inside the Tindivanam Municipality office. The video has gone viral on social media and prompted a police complaint under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The government employee in the video has been identified as Muniyappan, a junior assistant working in the municipal office. In the footage, which lasts under a minute, Muniyappan is seen bending down before Councillor Ramya Raja as people in the room appear to urge him to apologise. Ramya, seated and surrounded by others, can be heard saying “no” in response.

Following the incident, Muniyappan filed a police complaint against both Ramya and her husband, Raja. He alleged that the councillor had asked him to locate a document, and when there was a delay, she and her husband verbally abused him using casteist slurs. In his statement, Muniyappan claimed that he was called a “colony payyan” and a “Pariah,” and was threatened by the couple.

In his complaint, he further claimed that senior officers convened a meeting later in the evening and instructed him to apologise formally, asking him to fall at Ramya’s feet as part of that apology. The video that later went viral is alleged to have captured that moment of humiliation.

While the act has triggered widespread condemnation, Ramya Raja has denied coercing the officer into falling at her feet. Speaking to India Today, she said, “Nobody asked him to fall at my feet. He got emotional and fell on his own.”

Interestingly, local police revealed that Muniyappan had initially submitted a written note stating that he had knelt down voluntarily. However, he later filed a formal complaint contradicting his earlier statement, alleging that the act was not voluntary and that pressure was put on him by senior officials.

Police officials confirmed that a case has been registered under relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and investigations are ongoing. “We are looking for all evidence including CCTV footage. We are also speaking to all concerned and investigation is on,” a senior police officer stated. As of now, no arrests have been made.

Adding complexity to the case, authorities confirmed that Ramya had previously filed a complaint against Muniyappan with the municipal commissioner. The contents of that complaint have not been made public.

The incident has also taken on a political dimension. BJP Tamil Nadu state president K. Annamalai weighed in heavily, criticising the DMK. Sharing the video on social media, he wrote, “The DMK parades as a party of social justice but practices only social injustice.”

As public pressure mounts and political tensions rise, the incident has ignited broader questions about caste-based discrimination, workplace dignity, and the treatment of Dalit employees within government institutions.