Chennai: A court in Tamil Nadu has handed down a sentence of life imprisonment till death to a man convicted of sexually assaulting and attempting to murder a woman who was four months pregnant at the time of the attack. The crime took place earlier this year aboard a moving train, intensifying public outrage.
The incident occurred on February 6, 2025, on the 22616 Tirupathi Intercity Express. The woman, who was travelling alone, was attacked by a man identified as Hemaraj from Vellore district. The fact that the assault happened onboard a moving train added to the severity and shock of the case, TNIE reported.
The Tamil Nadu Railway Police acted quickly, registering a case at the Jolarpet Railway Police Station and arresting the accused within 24 hours. Hemaraj was placed in judicial custody soon after the initial investigation.
A chargesheet was filed on April 24, and the case moved swiftly through the legal system. The Thirupathur District Sessions Court took up the matter, fast-tracking the proceedings. On July 14, the court declared Hemaraj guilty and imposed the maximum punishment of life imprisonment until death.
This judgment comes on the heels of another major conviction in June, when a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) court in Chennai sentenced Gnansekaran to 35 years in prison in the widely publicised Anna University sexual assault case.
In a press release, the Office of the Director General of Police reaffirmed the Tamil Nadu Police's dedication to securing justice for women, highlighting its focus on swift and thorough investigation and prosecution in such cases.
Amid a rise in crimes against women, the department stressed its careful and methodical approach to handling these offences from the initial investigation stage through to achieving convictions in court.