02-06-2025
Anna University sexual assault case: Convict Gnanasekar gets life imprisonment for 30 years without remission
The lone convict in the Anna University sexual assault case, 37-year-old Gnanasekar, was sentenced to life imprisonment for a minimum period of 30 years without remission, by the Mahila Court in Chennai on Monday.
The crime occurred on the evening of December 23, 2024, when the survivor, a 19-year-old student, and her friend were seated near a building in the Anna University campus. Gnanasekar, a resident of Kottur who ran a biryani outlet, entered the campus that evening. Upon seeing them, he pretended to be a university staff member and threatened to report them to the management and have a transfer certificate issued.
He then separated them and took the woman student to a secluded spot, where he sexually assaulted her. He also videographed the act on his phone, the prosecution stated.
The Madras High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), comprising women officers, probed the sexual assault case, which had sparked massive outrage in the State, and had named history-sheeter Gnanasekar as the lone accused in charge sheet. He had already been involved in several other crimes.
Gananasekar was charged under Sections 329 (criminal trespass), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 87 (kidnapping), 127(2) (wrongful confinement), 75(2) (demand for sexual favour), 76 (assault or use of criminal force on woman with intent to disrobe), 64(i) (rape), 351(3) (criminal intimidation), and 238(b) (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and two provisions of the Information Technology Act and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act.
Last week, the Mahila Court held Gnanasekar guilty for offences under 11 sections, including Section 64(1) (rape) of the BNS, and convicted him under those provisions. The court had scheduled the pronouncement of the sentence on Monday.
Gnanasekar was brought to the court campus in a police van from the Central Prison at Puzhal, on Monday, amidst tight security. He was produced before the trial court (Mahila Court) judge M. Rajalakshmi.
The judge read out his sentence as he was standing in the box: 'For the charge under Section 64(1) of the BNS, you are sentenced to life imprisonment for a minimum period of 30 years without remission. Also, a ₹25,000-fine is imposed under this section, and if you default to pay the fine, you will have to undergo simple imprisonment for three months.'
The court gave different sentences, ranging from one month to 10 years imprisonment for the conviction, and imposed more fines, under 10 other sections of the BNS, Information Technology Act, and Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act. All the sentences of imprisonment imposed were ordered to run concurrently. The court imposed a total fine of ₹90,000.
The judgment read: 'According to the available oral evidence from the victim and scientific evidence available, it is proved on the side of the prosecution that the word 'Sir' used by the accused is order to make the victim child to believe him as the university staff and to threaten her to submit herself for his lust and nothing else. Accordingly, this court came to the conclusion that no other person except the accused according to the evidence available before this court either directly or indirectly involved in this occurrence [sic].'
'From the oral evidence given by the prosecution witness [the survivor], which is corroborated by her previous statement, and the oral evidence given by other witnesses... the evidence given by other witnesses examined on the side of the prosecution and the documents and material objects produced on the side of the prosecution, the prosecution has proved all the 11 charges [sic],' the judgment further read.
The Mahila Court judge noted that the High Court had awarded a compensation of ₹25 lakh to the survivor as interim compensation to be paid by the Tamil Nadu government immediately to her for the lapses by the police department in the FIR leak case, and for the trauma undergone by her and her family.
The Mahila Court also ordered that the interim compensation granted by the High Court will not be a bar for the survivor to claim further compensation under relevant laws. 'Taking consideration of the mental agony of the victim due to the offence of rape committed on her in the campus of her educational Institute itself, that too in a barbaric manner, this court found, it is lawful to award compensation to her in addition to the interim compensation awarded to her for leakage of FIR [sic],' the judge observed.
COVID-19 in India: India reports four more COVID-19 deaths; active cases nearing 4,000
India reported four more COVID-19 deaths in the last 24 hours — a 22-year-old woman from Delhi, a 25-year-old man from Tamil Nadu, 44-year-old man from Maharashtra and one death in Kerala — with the fatalities this year standing at 32, according to the Health Ministry on Monday. The number of active cases neared 4,000.
Kerala and Maharashtra recorded the largest number of deaths — with eight fatalities each — followed by Delhi and Karnataka with four each. Deaths have also been reported from Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Kerala has reported the largest number of cases at 1,435, followed by Maharashtra 506, Delhi 483 and West Bengal 331.
'Delhi has reported the death of a 22-year-old woman with old treated pulmonary Koch's/ post tuberculosis lung disease/ bilateral lower respiratory tract infection, while the 25-year-old man who died in Tamil Nadu had bronchial asthma, severe acute tubular injury and incidental COVID positive status,'' the Ministry said.
It said the 44-year-old man who died in Maharashtra had severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with dilated aortic regurgitation and was COVID-19 positive.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) noted that since mid-February 2025, global SARS-CoV-2 activity had been increasing, with the test positivity rate reaching 11%, levels that had not been observed since July 2024.
'This rise is primarily observed in countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific regions. Since early 2025, global SARS-CoV-2 variant trends have slightly shifted. Circulation of LP.8.1 has been declining, and reporting of NB.1.8.1, a Variant Under Monitoring (VUM), is increasing, reaching 10.7% of global sequences reported as of mid-May,'' noted WHO global situation report.
It added that the recent increases in SARS-CoV-2 activity were broadly consistent with levels observed during the same period last year, however, there still lacked a clear seasonality in SARS-CoV-2 circulation, and surveillance was limited.
WHO has recommended continued monitoring as an essential element to controlling COVID spread. It had also advised all member-states to continue applying a risk-based, integrated approach to managing COVID-19.
'As part of comprehensive COVID-19 control programmes, vaccination remains a key intervention for preventing severe disease and death, particularly among risk groups,'' added WHO.
Kamal Haasan moves Karnataka High Court for 'Thug Life' release after boycott calls
A co-producer of Tamil movie Thug Life has on Monday filed a petition in the High Court of Karnataka seeking directions to restrain the State authorities and the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) from taking any step directly or indirectly to restrict distribution, exhibition/screening of the movie in all languages across Karnataka.
The petition has been filed by Chennai-based Raajkamal Films International, through its CEO V. Narayanan.
The petition has been filed citing the public announcement made by the representatives of the KFCC that the movie would not be allowed to be exhibited in Karnataka till actor Kamal Haasan tenders an apology for making a controversial remark against Kannada language during the launch of film's audio in Chennai recently. The movie is slated for worldwide release on June 5.
However, it has been pointed out in the petition that the producers have not received any official communication on KFCC's decision to ban the movie though media statements were made on not allowing screening of the movie in Karnataka.
Claiming that a remark made by Ms. Haasan that 'Kannada was born out of Tamil' during the audio launch programme was 'misrepresented' or 'misquoted' by certain individuals and groups leading to controversy resulting in protest by various pro-Kannada organisations and KFCC's decision to ban the movie in Kannada till Mr. Haasan apologised for his remark.
It has been pointed out in the film the Mr. Haasan had already clarified that the remark was 'only out of love and affection, to demonstrate the camaraderie between Tamilians and Kannadigas, and that he believes love will always triumph.'
In fact, it has been stated in the petition, that Kannada actor Shivarajkumar, who was present at the audio launch when, had 'publicly endorsed and defended the remark made by Mr. Haasan' besides clarifying that Mr. Haasan has always spoken highly of the Kannada language and culture.
Stating that only the Central Board of Film Certification, which has already permitted public screening of 'Thug Life, has the power to ban screening of the movie, it has been contended in the petition that KFCC's action infringes the fundamental right of the petitioner to screen the movie.
Pointing out that the state authorities have not responded to the representation given seeking protection for screening of the movie, the petitioner has sought direction to the State authorities to provide necessary security and protection for smooth exhibition of the movie.
The petitioner has also sought a direction to KFCC not to make any statement on banning distribution and release of the movie.
Sixteen Maoists surrender in Sukma
Sixteen Naxalites, including six carrying a collective cash reward of ₹25 lakh, surrendered in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Monday, said a senior police officer.
Nine among those who surrendered belong to the Kerlapenda village panchayat. The group surrender has made the panchayat eligible for the Elvad Panchayat Scheme of the State government.
Under this scheme announced as part of the new surrender and rehabilitation policy unveiled earlier this year, any village where all wanted Naxals surrender is declared Naxal-free and receives grants for development projects worth ₹1 crore.
Kerlapanda is the second such village in Sukma district after Badesatti, which was declared Naxal-free in April after the surrender of 11 lower-rung Naxalites from there.
Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said that 16 cadres, including a woman, turned themselves in before senior police and Central Reserve Police Force officials citing disappointment with the 'hollow' and 'inhuman' Maoist ideology and atrocities by the Naxals on local tribals.
India offers an excellent opportunity for investment in aviation sector: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India's fast-growing aviation sector offers an excellent investment opportunity for leading global companies.
Addressing the AGM of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in New Delhi, Mr. Modi said the country aims to increase the size of the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) segment to $4 billion by 2030.
Emphasising that India has an open and supportive policy ecosystem, Mr. Modi said all efforts are being made to make the country a global manufacturing hub.
India is ready for big investments in the civil aviation sector, he noted.
'We want the world to see India not just as an aviation market but also as a value chain direction is right, our speed is we are confident that we will continue to move forward rapidly,' Mr. Modi said.
He further said India is investing in world-class airports and that the number of airports has increased to 162 from 74.
Today, India is the world's third-largest domestic aviation market.
The success of the UDAN scheme is a golden chapter in Indian civil aviation, the Prime Minister said.
In Brief:
Ukraine and Russia end their latest round of direct peace talks in Istanbul
Delegations from Russia and Ukraine ended their latest peace talks Monday in Turkiye after just over an hour, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian state media said. Speaking in Vilnius, Lithuania, Zelenskyy said both sides 'exchanged documents through the Turkish side, and we are preparing a new release of prisoners of the war.' Expectations were low for any breakthrough on ending the 3-year-old war after a string of stunning attacks over the weekend.
U.K. moving to 'war-fighting readiness', says Starmer
Faced with new threats, notably from Russia, the U.K. is moving to 'war-fighting readiness', its Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said, as his government released a strategic review of its defence capabilities and challenges. As an outcome of the review, the U.K. would build up to 12 attack submarines as part of the AUKUS (Australia, U.K. and U.S.) alliance. It would spend £15 billion on nuclear warheads, £1 billion on digital capability with a new 'CyberEM Command' and undertake improvements to housing for the military.
