Chennai court finds Anna University sex assault accused guilty on all charges
A Mahila Court in Chennai declared the accused in the Anna University sexual assault case guilty. The court on Wednesday said all 11 charges against Gnanasekaran were proved using documentary and forensic evidence.The incident took place around 8 pm on December 23 last year, when Gnanasekaran, a resident of Kottur who ran a biryani stall near the campus, allegedly entered the university premises, sexually assaulted a female student in a secluded area, and assaulted her male friend.advertisementAccording to the police, he allegedly shot a video of the incident and blackmailed the duo. He was later arrested by the Greater Chennai police and sent to prison.
Soon after his arrest, photographs of Gnanasekaran with functionaries of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) surfaced, leading to a political controversy. While the DMK initially denied any affiliation, opposition parties circulated images claiming he held a position in the party. BJP state chief K Annamalai alleged that Gnanasekaran was a DMK student wing office-bearer and posted photos of the accused with DMK leaders.Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi refuted the claims, stating that Gnanasekaran was not a party office-bearer. Chief Minister MK Stalin, in the Assembly, too clarified that while the accused was not a DMK member, he was indeed a sympathiser. advertisement'I assure you that the one arrested in the Chennai student case is not a member of DMK. He is a DMK sympathiser, we don't deny it,' Stalin said.Gnanasekaran had earlier filed a petition seeking release from the case, claiming there was no evidence against him and that his arrest was based on suspicion. Tamil Nadu Police filed a counterpetition, and arguments from both sides were placed before the court.As per the Madras High Court's direction, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the case. The SIT later filed a chargesheet in the Mahila Court.The Mahila court framed charges against Gnanasekaran under sections various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sexual harassment, BNSS, IT Act and the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act.He has now sought leniency in punishment, citing his mother's poor health. The court will pronounce the quantum of punishment on June 2.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Friends on their way to job interview hit by tractor in Noida, die
Noida: They set out hoping it would be a day of new beginnings. But two friends who were on their way to a job interview died in an accident in Sector 63 on Monday after a tractor rammed their bike from behind. Police have taken the tractor driver into custody and impounded the vehicle. Krishna Kumar (25) and Subhash (27) had met up around 9 am and were going to the factory in Sector 65 together. Around 10 minutes later, a sand-laden tractor headed to Gadhi roundabout hit them barely 100 metres from the Chhijarsi roundabout. The two men and their bike got stuck in front of the tractor and were dragged for several metres before being run over and crushed under its wheels, police said. After passersby alerted cops, a unit from Sector 63 station rushed the two to a nearby hospital but they were declared dead by doctors on arrival. Following the accident, a crowd gathered on the Chhijarsi main road, leading to a traffic jam. Officials reached the spot and dispersed the crowd, after which traffic flow gradually resumed. Eyewitnesses told cops the tractor was approaching at a high speed and the driver seemed to have lost control of the vehicle before ploughing into the bike. It was not immediately known who was riding the bike and who was seated as the pillion. Subhash's brother-in-law told cops that the youth had come to Ghaziabad's Bahrampur with his wife from Bihar's Vaishali some years ago and was looking for a job. He recently heard about a vacancy in a Sector 65 factory and was keen about the job. Krishna Kumar, who was originally from Hathras, tied the knot last Dec. He lived in Noida's Sector 63. A complaint has been submitted by his uncle in the case. DCP (Central Noida) Shakti Mohan Avasthy said a case was registered under BNS sections 106 (causing death by negligence) and 281 (rash or negligent driving on a public way). Cops are checking footage of CCTV cameras installed around the spot to ascertain the chain of events. The city recorded 1,165 accidents last year in which 462 people died and 966 people were injured. Speeding and wrong-side driving were among the top reasons behind road crash fatalities. On April 20, a 25-year-old food delivery agent was killed when a speeding motorcycle rammed his bike near Sector 72. On April 7, a 25-year-old ice cream vendor died after a speeding Santro hit his cart near Ryan roundabout in Greater Noida. During investigation, police found the driver rammed into several other carts nearby, but no one else was injured.
The Print
an hour ago
- The Print
Prohibitory orders imposed in Assam's Dhubri town following communal tensions
Issuing an order under section 163 of BNSS, District Magistrate Dibakar Nath said the restrictions shall come into force with immediate effect and remain in force until further order. Demonstrations were held in the town during the day to protest the alleged throwing of meat near a temple. Police had to use tear gas shells to bring the situation under control, they said. Guwahati, Jun 9 (PTI) Prohibitory orders were imposed in Assam's Dhubri town on Monday following communal tensions, officials said. 'It has been brought to my notice that there is a likelihood of breach of peace and public tranquillity in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Dhubri Police Station due to communal tension, riot risk, violent protests, etc,' he said. Accordingly, he ordered all shops and markets in the Dhubri town area to remain closed and prohibited the assembly of five or more people in any public places. Organising any rally, procession, meeting, or demonstration has also been strictly prohibited, the order mentioned. It exempted the movements of emergency services from the purview of the restrictions, it said. 'As the circumstances of the situation do not admit service of notice in due time, this order is passed ex-parte,' it added. While speaking to reporters, Nath said, 'I appeal to everyone to maintain peace, and there is no need to panic and get emotional. All must stay indoors and respect each other.' A suspected cow head was found near a temple on Sunday, another officer said. Protesting it, a mob attacked vegetable vendors and e-rickshaw drivers near Dhubri Magistrate Colony and New Market, he said. Nath said that sufficient forces have been mobilised from both state and central agencies, and they have been deployed across the town. Asked if curfew will be imposed, he said, 'There will be no curfew, but a kind of semi-curfew will be there. All shops and markets will be closed. I request all not to pay heed to rumours, and one community must respect the other.' The district administration held meetings between the Hindu and Muslim communities on Sunday and requested both sides to maintain peace. 'During today's protest, we lobbed tear gas shells at one place. No one was injured,' Nath said without sharing further details. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said a number of cattle were allegedly slaughtered illegally at several places on Eid, on Saturday, and parts of the meat were thrown at multiple locations across the state. He said the police arrested 16 people from different places. PTI TR SOM This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
24-year-old shot dead, mother critical after attack over monetary dispute in Ghaziabad
Ghaziabad: A 24-year-old man was shot dead and his 46-year-old mother critically injured after three men allegedly barged into their home in Dheda village on Sunday night and opened fire. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Police said the attack was the fallout of a long-standing enmity and monetary dispute between the youth and the accused. One of the accused was arrested on Monday and two others are on the run. Pankaj was shot four times and his mother, Guddi, twice. She remains under critical care at Yashoda Hospital. Police said the family had earlier been involved in a legal conflict with the accused. On Sunday night, the trio — Prashant alias Kabutar, Vicky, and Sunny Yadav — allegedly went to Pankaj's house with the intention to kill. "It was Prashant who fired upon him, after which they fled the spot," ACP (Masuri) Lipi Nagayach said. Teams were formed to trace the accused, and Sunny Yadav was arrested on Monday. "Sunny claimed he did not know Prashant was carrying a firearm or that he intended to kill anyone," police said. Pintu, the victim's father, said his wife and son were in the kitchen around 8.30pm when the accused entered and opened fire. "They threatened to kill the entire family while fleeing," he alleged. Police were informed about the incident around 9pm. "Our team reached the location, but the victims had already been taken to the hospital," Nagayach said. During interrogation, one of the accused, Sunny alias Anubhav, told police that he and his friends had ongoing disputes with Pankaj. "Around one and a half years ago, Pankaj had filed a case of assault against Sunny and his friend Prashant. Since then, they had developed enmity towards his family," said ACP Nagayach. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The ACP added that there was another altercation between the two parties on Saturday, in which Sunny sustained a head injury. "From that day onwards, Sunny and Prashant planned to take revenge," she said. Based on the complaint, police registered a case under sections 331(8) (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking), 351(3) (criminal intimidation involving threats of more serious harm), and 109(1) (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). After Pankaj's death during treatment, murder charges are being added. A manhunt is on to nab the other two accused.
