In the Anna University sexual assault case, where the accused, Gnanasekaran, was found guilty on all eleven charges earlier this week, a special court in Chennai decided the appropriate sentence.
The proceedings were presided over by Justice Rajalakshmi, who fined Gnanasekaran Rs 90,000 and sentenced him to 30 years in prison. A Chennai Mahila Court found Gnanasekaran guilty of all eleven of the accusations against him earlier this week. The court determined that forensic and documentary evidence supported the charges.
Around 8 p.m. on December 23 of last year, Gnanasekaran, a Kottur resident who operated a biryani stand close to the Anna University campus, allegedly broke in, sexually assaulted a female student in a private setting, and then attacked her male companion. Gnanasekaran is also accused by the police of recording a video of the incident and using it to blackmail the victims. The Greater Chennai Police took him into custody and placed him under judicial remand.
Pictures of Gnanasekaran with members of the ruling DMK had appeared after his detention, igniting a political controversy. Images that suggested he had a role in the party were shared by opposition parties, despite the DMK’s initial denial of any affiliation. Gnanasekaran was accused by BJP leader K Annamalai of being an office-bearer for the DMK student branch and of sharing pictures of him with DMK leaders.
The claims were denied by Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi, who insisted that Gnanasekaran was not a party official. Chief Minister K Stalin had also 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 already petitioned for the case to be dismissed, arguing that his arrest was based on suspicion and that there was insufficient evidence. The court heard arguments from both sides of the counterpetition filed by the Tamil Nadu Police.
A Special Investigation Team was established to look into the matter in response to directives from the Madras High Court. A chargesheet was thereafter submitted to the Mahila Court by the team. Gnanasekaran was charged under several sections of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Women Harassment Act, the Information Technology Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Gnanasekaran had asked for leniency prior to the punishment, pointing to his mother’s ailing condition.
