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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Anna University assault case: Convict gets 30 years in jail, fined ₹90k
The Chennai Mahila Court on Monday sentenced the convict in the Anna University sexual assault case to life imprisonment for at least 30 years and imposed a fine of ₹90,000, reported LiveLaw. The court had earlier found him guilty on all 11 charges levelled against him, based on substantial documentary and forensic evidence. Justice Rajalakshmi, who presided over the case, had reserved the sentencing for June 2 after holding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. The government counsel later confirmed that the prosecution successfully established all charges, including those under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act. The case dates back to December 23, 2024, when a woman student from Anna University lodged a complaint with the All Women Police Station in Kotturpuram, Chennai. According to the complaint, A Gnanasekaran, a biryani vendor from Kottur, threatened her and her male friend before sexually assaulting her in a secluded area on the university premises. Police reports indicated that Gnanasekaran recorded a video of the incident and used it to blackmail the woman and her friend. He was later arrested by the Greater Chennai Police and remanded to judicial custody. FIR leak Following the initial investigation, the FIR was downloaded from the CCTNS website of the Tamil Nadu Police and widely circulated by certain sections of the media, sparking public outrage. The Madras High Court then transferred the investigation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which also probed the FIR leak. The SIT filed a chargesheet in February, after which the case was transferred to the Mahila Court. Throughout the trial, the prosecution sought maximum punishment, arguing that the case had been proven beyond reasonable doubt. The court concurred, stating that the documentary and forensic evidence provided by the prosecution was sufficient to establish Gnanasekaran's guilt. Political row over DMK allegations The case also ignited a political controversy after photographs of Gnanasekaran with functionaries of the ruling DMK surfaced online. While BJP leader K Annamalai alleged that Gnanasekaran was a DMK student wing office-bearer, Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi denied the claim, asserting, 'He is not a party office-bearer.' Chief Minister MK Stalin addressed the matter in the Legislative Assembly, stating, '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.' Gnanasekaran had earlier filed a petition seeking discharge from the case, citing lack of evidence and claiming that his arrest was based on suspicion. The Tamil Nadu Police opposed this plea, and the court heard arguments from both sides before dismissing the petition.
Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Anna University sexual assault: Chennai court sentences convict A Gnanasekaran to 30 years in jail, fines him ₹90,000
The Chennai court sentenced A Gnanasekaran, the convict in the Anna University sexual assault case, to life imprisonment on Monday. Judge M Rajalakshmi said that the accused must remain in prison for at least 30 years without remission, news agency PTI reported. On 28 May, a Mahila Court in Chennai had pronounced Gnanasekaran guilty in the Anna University woman student sexual assault case, with the prosecution seeking 'maximum punishment' for him. The court awarded sentences in respect of each 11 charges proved by the prosecution against him. The sentences run concurrently, Mahila Court judge Rajalakshmi added, the report said. 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 Consultant counsel of Gnanasekaran, however, said that they will be appealing the court's sentence. According to a PTI report, BR Jayaprakash Narayanan said, '…We will be appealing this punishment of 30-year period. We will be going on appeal on the receipt of the judgment documents and valid papers." A second-year student of Anna University was sexually assaulted on the Anna University campus in December. After an investigation, the Chennai Police had arrested Gnanesekaran in connection with the case. The case came to light after the victim lodged a complaint before the All Women Police Station in Kotturpuram in Chennai on 23 December last year. The student alleged that an unidentified man had threatened and sexually assaulted her when she was talking to her friend on campus. The Mahila court framed charges against Gnanasekaran under various sections of the BNS, including sexual harassment, BNSS, IT Act and the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act. Hailing the court's decision, Congress MP Jothimani told IANS, '…Today, the punishment has been announced – 30 years of imprisonment for the culprit. The way justice has been served gives satisfaction not only to me but to every woman in the country, especially because the case was fast-tracked.' 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 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin, had in January said he was only a sympathiser and supporter, and not a member of the Dravidian organisation. After Gnanasekaran was convicted on 28 May, in a post on X, CM Stalin had hailed the state police, investigating officers, and government lawyers for the expeditious verdict in the Anna University sexual assault case. He also slammed the opposition parties, which had made allegations against the ruling DMK over the incident, and said attempts were made to play 'cheap politics'.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Anna University rape case: Chennai court sentences sole accused Gnanasekaran to life
CHENNAI: The Chennai Mahila Court on Monday sentenced the sole accused in the Anna University rape case, A Gnanasekaran, to life imprisonment. He must undergo at least 30 years of imprisonment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Mahila Court Judge M Rajalakshmi passed the order four days after declaring him guilty of all 11 charges framed, including rape. On December 24, a complaint was lodged by the survivor at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station (AWPS), alleging that Gnanasekaran threatened her when she was with a male friend on the university campus and then raped her. According to the prosecution, Gnanasekaran recorded the act on his mobile phone. As the identity of the victim was leaked in the public domain on December 26, the Madras High Court constituted an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. On February 24, the SIT completed the probe and filed a 100-page charge sheet before the jurisdictional magistrate. On March 7, the case was transferred to the Mahila Court, which framed charges against Gnanasekaran under sections 329 (criminal trespass), 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 87 (abduction of a woman), 127(2), 75(2) read with 75(i), (ii), (iii), 76, 64(1) (rape), 351(3), 238(b) of BNS and BNSS, Section 66 of the IT Act, and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act.
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Anna University sexual assault case: Mahila court convicts accused Gnanasekaran, to pronounce verdict on June 2
CHENNAI: A Mahila Court in Chennai on Wednesday convicted A. Gnanasekaran, the sole accused in the case, of sexually assaulting an Anna University student on the institute's campus on December 23. Mahila Court Judge Rajalakshmi said she will pronounce the verdict in the case on June 2. The government counsel later told reporters that the prosecution filed 11 charges against Gnanasekaran and proved all of them using documentary and forensic evidence. "Today, he was pronounced guilty by the court. The details of the sentence will be given on June 2," she said. The court had framed charges against Gnanasekaran under sections 329, 126(2), 87, 127(2), 75(2) read with 75(i), (ii), (iii), 76, 64(1), 351(3), 238(b) of BNS and BNSS, Section 66 of the IT Act and Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act. Gnanasekaran, a biryani vendor who is an accused in multiple other cases of thefts and other offences, pleaded not guilty. The charges in the Anna University case pertain to rape, sexual harassment, wrongful confinement, abduction of a woman and criminal trespass. The case came to light on Christmas day last year after the survivor lodged a complaint (on December 24) at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station (AWPS) alleging that Gnanasekaran threatened her when she was with a male friend and then assaulted her and forced her to do sexual acts by threatening her. Police sources said that Gnanasekaran had recorded the act on his mobile phone as well, which he showed to the survivor to threaten her to not report the incident. The student, however, came forward and reported the incident. He was soon arrested. 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 into the case to an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT), which also probed the FIR 'leak'. The SIT filed a charge sheet in the last week of February before a magistrate court.
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Varsity student sexual assault case: Court finds accused guilty, to pronounce verdict on June 2
Chennai, A Mahila Court here on Wednesday pronounced as guilty, the accused biriyani vendor in the sensational Anna University woman student sexual assault case A Gnanasekaran, with the prosecution seeking "maximum punishment" for him. Holding that the prosecution has proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, the court found Gnanasekaran guilty of the charges framed against him in the sexual assault case that rocked Tamil Nadu in December 2024. Mahila Court Judge Rajalakshmi said she will pronounce the verdict in the case on June 2. The government counsel later told reporters that the prosecution filed 11 charges against Gnanasekaran and proved all of them using documentary and forensic evidence. "Today, he was pronounced guilty by the court. The details of the sentence will be given on June 2," she said. Giving a brief update on the proceedings on Wednesday, she indicated that Gnanasekaran sought a lenient sentence claiming he was the sole bread-winner of the family. "The prosecution strongly objected to this and sought the maximum punishment," she 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. 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. 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.
