Latest news with #SpecialInvestigationTeam
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Only one accused, nobody shielded: Anna University sexual assault case prosecutor
In a statement following the sentencing in the Anna University sexual assault case, Public Prosecutor Mary Jeyanthi clarified that Gnanasekaran is the sole accused. She said the Mahila court's verdict reflected this with the sentence of 30 years rigorous imprisonment without remission.'He will not be entitled to any privileges or early release. There is no one else. The court found the evidence sufficient to convict only him,' she said, dismissing claims that the FIR only named Gnanasekaran to shield case, initially filed by the Kotturpuram Police, was later handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on the direction of the Madras High Court. Following a detailed investigation, the SIT filed a chargesheet in the Mahila Court. The sexual assault survivor appeared in court for the first time on April 23, and arguments began the same day. Jeyanthi said the prosecution presented evidence including oral testimonies, documentary proof, and scientific analysis, under 11 separate sections.'The court found the evidence to be satisfactory. Every witness and every document submitted pointed to Gnanasekaran alone. There was no hostile witness,' she speculation on whether others were involved, Jeyanthi firmly responded, 'According to us, the accused's phone is the weapon of the case.' She explained that the phone was sent for forensic analysis via court order to map his activity on December Forensic Science Laboratory confirmed the phone was in flight mode. The Airtel nodal officer testified in court that the first call to the phone was at 6.29 pm, with an SMS alert at 8.58 pm. There were no other calls. The expert also appeared as a witness.'She cited Section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which empowers the court to attach others as accused if multiple persons are involved. 'But in this case, the evidence was clear. The court did not find reason to add anyone else. Making such claims now amounts to contempt of court,' she prosecution also proved that Gnanasekaran had faked being a university staffer to trap the victim, and that he recorded the incident and used it to blackmail her. 'This was a staged drama, and it was proven scientifically and through witness statements,' Jeyanthi the survivor, she said, 'Because she had the courage to file a complaint, justice has been delivered today. The law, the court, and the government will not remain silent when a woman faces such an atrocity. This verdict is the proof.'Tune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
New Indian Express
7 hours ago
- New Indian Express
After Maoist loot, cops seize two trucks laden with explosives
ROURKELA: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Rourkela police on Sunday recovered two explosives-laden trucks parked suspiciously near a fuel station at Balughat in RN Pali here for the last two days. The recovery comes close on the heels of the loot of huge quantity of blasting explosives by Maoists from Banko forest in K Balang on May 27. The source of the explosives looted by Maoists and the explosives seized on Sunday has been traced to the same warehouse in Bargaon block of Sundargarh district. The warehouse has been sealed from May 28. Sources said about 116 packets of gelatine sticks, 416 detonators and 750 metre of charging electric wires were recovered from the two trucks. Police said it is suspected that owner of the warehouse Shraban Agarwal is involved in illegal supply of explosives to stone quarries and mines for monetary gain. A top police officer said during investigation, the SIT learnt that on May 27, three trucks laden with explosives had come out of the warehouse. While one truck was looted by the Maoists, the two others were kept hidden. During interrogation in the K Balang case, the warehouse owner told police that explosives loaded in the two trucks were delivered to clients.
NDTV
7 hours 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.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rishikesh murder: No VIP link, prime accusedsought favours which victim resisted, says SIT
Dehradun: Following the life imprisonment verdict for all three accused in the sensational Rishikesh resort receptionist murder case, questions have resurfaced over the alleged involvement of a 'VIP'— a claim that sparked widespread outrage and political debate when the case first broke in 2022. However, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which probed the case, reiterated that it found no evidence of any VIP link. P Renuka Devi, the then DIG (law & order) in Uttarakhand police, who led the SIT and is now posted as DIG, CBI, said: "Our investigation did not reveal any VIP connection. There was no evidence suggesting a high-profile visitor was expected at the resort or that the victim was being pushed to entertain one. However, the probe uncovered several instances indicating that the prime accused, Pulkit Arya — son of a former BJP leader and resort owner — who is now convicted, was seeking 'favours' from the 19-year-old receptionist, which she consistently refused. Based on this, we later added the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act to the charges." Citing more findings of the SIT probe, she said the other staffers, including some witnesses, also denied the 'VIP' involvement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo "It was found that there were two VIP suites in the resort which were not booked during the time of the crime. Staff members of the resort confirmed the same when questioned," she added. In Dec 2022, during the assembly session, govt had informed the House that "No VIP was to visit or visited the resort." The information was shared by then state minister of parliamentary affairs, Premchand Aggarwal, in reply to a question by opposition's Chakrata MLA and former Congress state president Pritam Singh.
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Ankita Bhandari murder case: Uttarakhand ex-minister's son, 2 others get lifer
Dehradun: An Uttarakhand court on Friday sentenced the three convicts to life imprisonment in the sensational Ankita Bhandari murder case in Pauri district in 2022. Additional District and Session Judge, Kotdwar, Reena Negi held Pulkit Arya, resort owner and son of a former BJP leader, and his two associates, Saurabh Bhaskar and Ankit Gupta, guilty of murdering Ankita, who worked as a receptionist at Vanantra Resort located in Yamkeshwar. The court held the trio guilty under penal provisions dealing with murder (IPC Section 302), offence committed by an enforcing authority (Section 210b) and causing disappearance of evidence (Section 201). According to the police, Ankita,19, was killed on September 18, 2022 and her body was dumped in Chilla canal in Rishikesh, from where it was retrieved about six days after she went missing. According to the prosecution, Ankita and Pulkit Arya had a dispute over something, after which the man, along with Bhaskar and Gupta, allegedly pushed the woman into the canal. Resort owner Pulkit is the son of former BJP leader Vinod Arya who was a minister in the Uttarakhand government till 2021. The case had made national headlines after the local people came out and protested over the murder as the law enforcement agencies were dragging their feet on the probe into the murder. On Friday, the court resembled a fortress due to heightened security, with only lawyers and family members of the victim and convicts allowed to attend the proceedings. A ring of no-entry zone of 200 metre was also thrown around the court complex. The BJP had sacked Vinod Arya from the party after the controversy and the Uttarakhand government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The Uttarakhand court completed its hearing in the case on Monday, examining 47 witnesses during the hearing that lasted two years and eight months. On May 19, after hearing the closing arguments of both sides, the Judge had fixed May 30 as the date for pronouncing the verdict. According to the prosecution, Ankita Bhandari and Pulkit Arya had a dispute over something, after which the man, along with Bhaskar and Gupta, allegedly pushed the woman into the Cheela canal in Rishikesh. After Ankita Bhandari's lifeless body was fished out of the Cheela canal, the three men were arrested by the police and sent to prison. Fearing leniency for the accused and his accomplices due to his political connections, the residents of Pauri district came out in large numbers to protest, and the Uttarakhand government formed a SIT to probe the matter and take the case to its logical conclusion.
