Chennai:
In a landmark judgment, a Chennai court on Monday sentenced A Gnanasekaran, a 37-year-old biriyani vendor, to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum term of 30 years without remission for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old Anna University student. The crime occurred on the university campus in December 2024, sparking statewide outrage and protests over women’s safety.
Judge M Rajalakshmi delivered the verdict after finding Gnanasekaran guilty under multiple charges, including sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Information Technology Act, and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act. The verdict followed a swift five-month trial that concluded with the court describing the offence as “grievously heinous.”
The accused, who was arrested within 24 hours of the incident and brought from Puzhal Central Prison for sentencing, already had a criminal record with 20 previous cases, six of which led to convictions for petty offences like theft and housebreaking.
Details of the Assault
According to the police report, the victim said Gnanasekaran had secretly recorded private moments between her and a friend and later used the footage to blackmail her. After physically assaulting her male friend, he led the young woman to a secluded spot and sexually assaulted her. He also threatened to release the videos if she refused further meetings, taking photos of her ID and her father’s contact information.
Political Fallout and Reactions
The ruling DMK party faced criticism over alleged links between Gnanasekaran and some of its leaders. While the DMK commended the prompt judicial process as a sign of the government’s zero-tolerance stance on crimes against women, opposition parties including AIADMK and BJP demanded answers and further accountability.
AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami credited his party’s protests for the rapid legal action and raised questions about a mysterious “sir” Gnanasekaran allegedly referenced during the crime. However, Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun clarified that the accused only pretended to speak to someone on a call, having actually placed his phone on airplane mode.
The “Who is that, sir?” campaign became a rallying point for AIADMK protests, both in the Assembly and in public. BJP leader K Annamalai also criticized the government and police, accusing them of leaking the victim’s identity and highlighting images of Gnanasekaran with DMK ministers. The DMK refuted these claims, stating such photos are not indicative of political affiliation.
Institutional Response
The aftermath of the assault led Anna University to enhance its campus security, including increased deployment of personnel and the installation of CCTV cameras. A joint audit with police was conducted to identify and rectify safety gaps.
Taking suo motu cognisance, the Madras High Court ordered the Tamil Nadu government to compensate the survivor with ₹25 lakh and directed Anna University to cover her educational expenses. It also established an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure a thorough probe.