On 28 May, within just five months after a female engineering student was sexually harassed, the trial court pronounced the accused guilty.
Published Jun 02, 2025 | 11:26 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 02, 2025 | 11:28 AM
Anna University.
Synopsis: The Chennai Mahila Court sentenced Gnanasekaran, convicted of sexual harassment of a student inside the Anna University campus, to life imprisonment without the possibility of remission.
The Chennai Mahila Court on Monday, 2 June, sentenced Gnanasekaran, convicted over the sexual harassment of a female student inside the Anna University campus, to life imprisonment without the possibility of remission. The court awarded him a 30-year rigorous prison term.
Justice Rajalakshmi who pronounced the sentence, also imposed a fine of ₹90,000.
On 28 May, within just five months after a female engineering student was sexually harassed, the trial court pronounced the accused guilty.
On 23 December 2024, the female student was sexually harassed by an unidentified man. Following the incident, the survivor complained to the Kotturpuram All-Women Police Station in Chennai, which led to the registration of a case and subsequent investigation.
Anna University, located in Guindy, Chennai, is one of the premier engineering institutions in Tamil Nadu, with thousands of students enrolled in various disciplines. The campus includes hostels for male and female students.
Following the sexual harassment, the Kotturpuram All-Women Police Station registered a case under six sections of the Bhratiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Using CCTV footage and other investigative methods, the police arrested Gnanasekaran, a biryani shop owner from Kotturpuram. The survivor identified him as the perpetrator, and a formal investigation began. The trial has been ongoing for the past five months.
During this period, controversy erupted after the FIR, containing the survivor’s personal details, was leaked online. This sparked protests from several organisations and political parties.
Opposition parties, including AIADMK and BJP, accused the ruling DMK of trying to shield the accused, alleging that Gnanasekaran had links to the DMK. The government formed a special inquiry team consisting of three women IPS officers to investigate the matter.
During the final hearing, Gnanasekaran pleaded for leniency, stating that he was raised by a single mother, his father was absent, and his mother was in poor health. He also mentioned that he had a young daughter studying in Class 8 and requested a minimum sentence and the unfreezing of his bank account.
However, Special Public Prosecutor Mary Jayanthi argued for the maximum punishment, stating that Gnanasekaran should not be shown any mercy. The police also strongly opposed any leniency.
Justice Rajalakshmi questioned whether the charges under which he was convicted allowed for life imprisonment without sentence reduction.
A total of 11 charges against Gnanasekaran were proven in court. Following this, Justice Rajalakshmi declared Gnanasekaran guilty and announced that the sentencing details would be pronounced on 2 June 2025.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
