Justice Served: Chennai Court Convicts Man for Campus Sexual Assault

Chennai Court Delivers Verdict in Campus Assault Case

Chennai: In a significant ruling, the Mahila Court in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, has found Gnanasekaran (37) guilty of multiple charges, including rape, nearly five months after a student was assaulted on the Anna University campus.

Judge M. Rajalakshmi announced that the sentencing will take place on June 2.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed the chargesheet on February 24, taking over the investigation from the Greater Chennai Police.

Gnanasekaran, a local DMK leader and roadside biryani vendor with a criminal history, was apprehended shortly after the incident.

The assault occurred on December 23, 2024, when the victim, a second-year engineering student, was with a male friend on campus.

Gnanasekaran confronted them, threatening to release a fabricated video of their intimate moments to university officials, which would lead to their expulsion.

He coerced the boy to leave and manipulated the girl into following him to a secluded area, claiming the boy was under investigation by university staff.

When she resisted his advances, Gnanasekaran allegedly assaulted her and recorded the incident on his phone.

He later blackmailed her, threatening to share the video with her father and college authorities if she did not meet him again. However, the victim bravely reported the incident the next day at the Kotturpuram All Women Police Station, supported by her family and college officials.

The police acted swiftly, leading to Gnanasekaran's arrest.

During the trial, his defense sought leniency, citing personal circumstances, but the prosecution emphasized the severity of the crime and the accused's criminal background.

Judge Rajalakshmi has reserved the sentencing for June 2, marking a crucial step towards justice for the survivor and sending a strong message against violence towards women in educational institutions.