Mahila court finds accused guilty in Anna University sexual assault case
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Chennai: Nearly five months after the sexual assault of a student inside the Anna University campus, the Mahila Court in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday found the sole accused, Gnanasekaran (37), guilty on 11 counts, including rape.
The Mahila Court, led by Judge M. Rajalakshmi, has scheduled sentencing for June 2 in the Anna University case.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed the charge sheet on February 24 after taking over from the Greater Chennai Police. The accused, Gnanasekaran—a roadside biryani vendor and DMK local leader with a criminal history—was arrested shortly after the incident, which occurred on December 23, 2024, when the victim, a second-year engineering student, was with her male friend on campus.
Gnanasekaran confronted the couple, threatened them with a fabricated video of them being intimate, and warned that he would share it with university officials to have them expelled.
He then coerced the boy into leaving and manipulated the girl into following him to a secluded part of the campus. Pretending that the boy was being investigated by university staff, he further intimidated the victim.
When she refused to comply with his demands, Gnanasekaran allegedly sexually assaulted her and recorded the act on his mobile phone.
He later took her phone number and blackmailed her, threatening to send the video to her father and college authorities if she failed to meet him again. However, the girl demonstrated remarkable courage by refusing to stay silent.
With the support of her family and college authorities, she filed a complaint the very next day at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station. The swift action by the police led to Gnanasekaran’s immediate arrest.
During the trial, the defence sought leniency, citing personal grounds, but the prosecution firmly opposed, emphasising the gravity of the crime and the accused’s criminal history.
After hearing both sides, Judge Rajalakshmi reserved the sentencing decision for June 2.
(inputs from IANS)
