Anna University Sexual Harassment Case: Chennai Court Finds Accused Gnanasekaran Guilty, Sentence On June 02

A Chennai Court has found Gnanasekaran, sole accused in Anna University sexual assault case, guilty.

Sessions Judge M Rajalakshmi will pass an order on sentence on June 02. When questioned about his sentence, Gnanasekaran requested the court to give him minimum sentence since he had an elderly mother and a daughter studying in Class VIII.

On 23rd December 2024, when the girl and her male friend were inside the University campus, the accused allegedly recorded a video of the couple and later attacked the friend. After the friend fled the area, the accused allegedly sexually assaulted the girl inside the university campus. Gnanasekaran used to run a biriyani stall near the campus. The attack also raised serious concerns about the security lapses near the campus

Following this, All Women Police Station, Kotturpuram registered an FIR and Gnanasekaran was subsequently arrested. He was charged under Sections 63(a) [Rape], 64(1) [Punishment for Rape], and 75 (1) (ii) [Demand or request for sexual favour] of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 

The High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of the case in December last year. The National Commission for Women had also taken suo motu cognizance calling for stricter punishments and action against those who leaked the details of the FIR in the public domain.

The High Court had formed a Special Investigation Team comprising of women IPS officers to investigate the case. While handing over the investigation to the SIT, the court criticised the Tamil Nadu police for the manner in which the FIR was worded in the nature of victim blaming and also noted that there were serious lapses on the part of the police and the University.

The court said that the FIR leak was a serious lapse on the part of the police which caused trauma for the victim and her family and directed the State to pay an interim compensation of Rs. 25 Lakh to the victim girl, which could be recovered from those who were responsible for the dereliction of duty and leaking of the FIR. This part of the order was later stayed by the Supreme Court.