- विज्ञापन -
Chennai: Nearly five months after a student was sexually assaulted on the Anna University campus, the Mahila Court in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday convicted the sole accused, Gnanasekaran (37), on 11 charges, including rape. The court, led by Judge M. Rajalakshmi, announced that the sentencing will take place on June 2.
The charge sheet was filed on February 24 by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that took over the case from the Greater Chennai Police. Gnanasekaran, a roadside biryani vendor, a local DMK leader, and someone with a criminal record, was initially detained by police soon after the incident.
According to prosecutors, the crime occurred on December 23, 2024, when the victim, a second-year engineering student, was with her male friend on campus. Gnanasekaran confronted them, threatened to reveal a fabricated video of their intimacy to university officials to get them expelled, and coerced the boy to leave. He then lured the girl to a secluded part of the campus, pretending he was investigating her friend, and intimidated her further. When she refused to comply with his demands, Gnanasekaran allegedly sexually assaulted her and recorded the act on his phone.
He later obtained her phone number and blackmailed her, threatening to share the video with her father and university authorities if she refused to meet him again. The girl displayed remarkable courage, refusing to remain silent, and, with her family and college support, filed a police complaint the following day at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station. The police acted swiftly, arresting Gnanasekaran immediately.
During the trial, his lawyer requested leniency, citing personal reasons, but the prosecution emphasized the serious nature of the crime and Gnanasekaran’s criminal background. After hearing both sides, Judge Rajalakshmi reserved verdict on sentencing for June 2.
The verdict is seen as an important step in delivering justice for the survivor and sending a strong message against crimes targeting women in educational institutions.
