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Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Anna Varsity Case: Rape convict gets 30 years in jail
Chennai: A Mahila Court in Chennai on Monday sentenced A Gnanasekaran, the sole accused in the 2024 Anna University campus rape case, to life imprisonment without the possibility of remission. The court ordered that he must serve a minimum of 30 years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 90,000 on him. Mahila Court judge M Rajalakshmi handed down the sentence four days after convicting Gnanasekaran on 11 charges, including rape, abduction, wrongful confinement, and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Anna University sexual assault convict jailed for 30 years
A local court in Chennai on Monday sentenced a 37-year-old man, convicted for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old student of Anna University last year, to 30 years in prison without remission. Mahila court judge M Rajalakshmi pronounced the sentence in respect of each of the 11 charges proved by the prosecution and said the sentences will run concurrently. 'He will not be entitled to any privileges or early release,' public prosecutor Mary Jeyanthi told reporters after the verdict. 'His phone is the weapon of this case,' Jeyanthi said. 'We submitted to the court a report from the forensic science lab which had analysed his phone activities on the day of the crime and concluded that he put his phone on flight mode. An official from his network provider testified in court that he received no calls post 6.29pm on December 23 until he received an SMS at 8.58pm clearly stating his phone was in airplane mode during this time.' Earlier on Wednesday, she convicted Gnanasekaran finding him guilty of charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. In December 2024, Gnanasekaran, who worked as a vendor near the university, broke into the campus and assaulted the student. The First Information Report in the case said that Gnanasekaran forced the student to perform 'sexual acts'. The student told police that Gnanasekaran emerged from behind after having recorded a video of her with her friend on his mobile phone. He threatened to leak the video and send it to her father and the college authorities. Gnanasekaran threatened and first physically assaulted the student's friend, a third-year student. The student urged Gnanasekaran not to leak the video. Gnanasekaran took her friend away, asking her to wait at the same place. He then took the 19-year-old to a secluded spot about 200 metres away and sexually assaulted her. Gnanasekaran also took photos of her ID card and father's number and asked her to keep meeting him, failing which he said he would release her videos. Gnanasekaran was arrested on December 24 last year. However, the FIR of the case was downloaded from the CCTNS website of Tamil Nadu police and broadcast by certain sections of the media which created a furore. Later, the Madras high court transferred the investigation of the case to a special investigation team, which also probed the FIR leak. The SIT filed a charge sheet in February before a magistrate court. Thereafter, the case was transferred to the Mahila Court. The judge, while convicting Gnanasekaran, said that he sought a lenient sentence claiming he was the sole bread-winner of the family and prosecution objected to it and sought maximum punishment. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which was under fire over Gnanasekaran's alleged links with it, hailed the speedy verdict within five months, saying it showed the government's commitment to protecting women. DMK leader RS Bharathi said Gnanasekaran was arrested within 24 hours after the crime was reported, a charge sheet was filed within 60 days on February 24 and the police gathered strong evidence and the court found the accused guilty within five months. He said the government will not tolerate crimes against women. Opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader Edappadi Palaniswami said its state-wide protests led to the speedy conviction in the case. He added that some important questions remained unanswered and vowed to ensure that others involved in the crime were also punished. The AIADMK campaigned for justice in the case, asking: 'Who is that, Sir?' In her complaint to the police, the student said that Gnanasekaran spoke to someone over the phone, addressing him as 'sir' and pretending to take instructions from him. Chennai police chief, A Arun, clarified that Gnanasekaran had put his phone on airplane mode and pretended to speak to someone, referring to him as 'sir' to intimidate the student. He said there was no other suspect in the case. The AIADMK continued the 'sir campaign' and brought placards to the state assembly asking: 'Who is that, sir?' The AIADMK maintained Gnanasekaran was linked with the DMK, citing his photos posing with DMK ministers. Chief minister MK Stalin clarified that Gnanasekaran was a DMK supporter but not a member and promised justice in the case. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K Annamalai, who whipped himself six times to protest against the assault, accused the Tamil Nadu police of leaking the student's identity. He released pictures of the accused posing with deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and minister M Subramanian. He called Gnanasekaran a repeat offender and a DMK functionary. The DMK denied the claim, saying anyone can click a picture with government functionaries. AIADMK and BJP workers, including former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, protested outside the campus and district collectorates. The assault forced Anna University to deploy more security personnel and CCTVs on campus to strengthen security. The police and the university also conducted a joint security audit. The Madras high court took a suo motu cognisance of the case and directed the state government to pay ₹25 lakh compensation to the 19-year-old student and Anna University to sponsor her education for failing to ensure her safety. It also appointed an all-women Special Investigation Team to probe the assault.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu court sentences convict in Anna university case to life imprisonment
A Mahila Court in Chennai on Monday awarded life sentence for a minimum period of 30 years without remission to the accused Gnanasekaran, who has been convicted for sexually harassing a student on the Anna University campus in December last year. Mahila Court judge M Rajalakshmi, who convicted Gnanasekaran on May 28, awarded sentences in respect of each 11 charges proved by the prosecution against sentences run concurrently, the judge added. The sensational case had triggered a political row over Gnanasekaran's alleged connections with the ruling DMK in the state, although the party president and Chief Minister M K Stalin had in January said he was only a sympathiser and supporter, and not a member of the Dravidian party. Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions and subtitles off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Good News If You Owe Banks Over R75,000 Consumersave Click Here Undo The case came to light after the victim lodged a complaint before the All Women Police Station in Kotturpuram here on December 23 last year. In her complaint, the victim alleged that Gnanasekaran threatened her when she was with a male friend and then sexually harassed her. Gnanasekaran was later arrested. Live Events The FIR of the case was downloaded from the CCTNS website of Tamil Nadu police and broadcast by certain sections of the media which created a furore. Later, the Madras High Court transferred the investigation of the case to a Special Investigation Team , which also probed the FIR leak. The SIT filed a charge sheet in February before a magistrate court. Thereafter, the case was transferred to the Mahila Court. The Mahila court framed charges against Gnanasekaran under sections various sections of the BNS, including sexual harassment , BNSS, IT Act and the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act.
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- New Indian Express
Anna University sexual assault case: Chennai court sentences Gnanasekaran to life imprisonment, 30-year-minimum term
A Chennai Mahila Court on Monday sentenced Gnanasekaran, the sole accused in the sexual assault of a 19-year-old Anna University student, to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of 30 years without remission. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 90,000 on the accused. The sentencing follows a swift trial that began after the December 2024 incident shocked the state and triggered widespread protests across Tamil Nadu. Mahila Court judge M Rajalakshmi, who convicted Gnanasekaran on May 28, awarded sentences in respect of each 11 charges proved by the prosecution against him. The sentences run concurrently, the judge added. Meanwhile, A Gnanasekaran's advocate BR Jayaprakash Naryanan said they will appeal to a higher court. Speaking to ANI, Narayanan said, "There is a chance for us to file a better appeal. After receiving the documents from the court, we will appeal to a higher court."
NDTV
3 days ago
- NDTV
Life Term For Man Who Sexually Assaulted 19-Year-Old In Anna University
Chennai: Gnanasekaran, a biryani vendor convicted in the high-profile sexual assault case at the Anna University, has been sentenced to life imprisonment. He has also been fined Rs 90,000, a Mahila Court in Chennai read out the punishment for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old student last December. The convict must remain in prison for at least 30 years, said Judge M Rajalakshmi. The judge found Gnanasekaran guilty on all 11 charges last week, including sexual assault, rape, intimidation, and kidnapping. At least 29 witnesses testified in the case, and the police filed a 100-page chargesheet. He had earlier pleaded for minimum punishment, citing his need to be at home to look after his elderly mother and eight-year-old daughter. But in view of his conviction on all the charges, he must get the maximum punishment, the judge had said. On December 23, Gnanasekaran entered the university campus and attacked a friend of the teenager, and then sexually assaulted her. He had also filmed the act with an intention to blackmail her. He was arrested the same day. The sexual assault case that found closure after five months of trial had also sparked a massive row in December. Welcoming the conviction, Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami had raised that the convict had spoken to a certain "sir" during the sexual assault. The identity of this alleged person remains unknown, with the police saying he had only pretended to speak to someone, and no one else was involved. During his questioning, the convict had also confessed to carrying out thefts at several houses in Chennai, sources had said, after over 100 sovereigns of gold and a luxury SUV were seized from him. The probe also sparked concerns over the survivor's identity being revealed through the FIR that was easily accessible online. Indian law protects the identity of sexual assault survivors to prevent social stigma. The police had denied leaking the details and blamed the centrally administered police website for not restricting sensitive information. Slamming the police investigation, the court had formed a women-only Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the sexual assault case as well as the alleged FIR leak. Calling the leak a serious lapse, it had directed the government to provide Rs 25 lakh as interim assistance to the survivor for the trauma. The sexual assault case had given the opposition AIADMK a fresh arsenal to target the ruling DMK over women's safety and declining law and order in Tamil Nadu. The DMK had then vowed to fast-track the probe and ensure justice. BJP state chief K Annamalai had flogged himself in public in a symbolic act over the incident, for what he had described as the deteriorating law and order situation. He had also announced a 48-day fast and a mega pilgrimage as part of his protest. Mr Annamalai had also shared a photo of the convict with Chief Minister MK Stalin's son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, claiming that Gnanasekharan was a DMK member. The DMK had trashed the charge, with MK Stalin asserting he was just a supporter, not a member.
