A Chennai court Today (May 28) found biryani seller Gnanasekaran guilty in the Anna University sexual assault case involving a 19-year-old student. The court confirmed his conviction under all 11 charges; sentencing is awaited.
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Tamil Nadu: A Chennai Mahila Court today declared Gnanasekaran, a man who sold biryani near Anna University, guilty in the high-profile sexual assault case that shocked Tamil Nadu in December last year. The case involved the sexual assault of a 19-year-old girl student inside the university campus and had created a big political and public uproar.
The court found Gnanasekaran guilty on all 11 serious charges, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, rape, criminal intimidation, kidnapping, and certain offences under the Information Technology (I-T) Act.
The court has not yet given the final sentence, but it will be announced soon.
Judge Rajalakshmi clearly stated,
“He must get the maximum punishment since he has been convicted of all the charges.”
However, during the hearing, Gnanasekaran requested the court for a lighter punishment.
He told the judge,
“I have to look after my elderly mother and eight-year-old daughter.”
The shocking crime took place around 8 PM on December 23 of the previous year. Gnanasekaran, a resident of Kottur who ran a biryani stall close to the Anna University campus, allegedly entered the university premises without permission.
He then attacked a young female student in a secluded area of the campus. Along with sexually assaulting her, he also reportedly physically assaulted her male friend who was with her at the time.
The case caught public attention quickly and drew criticism over the security situation in educational institutions. Due to the serious nature of the incident, the Madras High Court stepped in and directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter thoroughly.
This SIT collected all the necessary evidence and later filed a complete chargesheet in the Mahila Court.
Soon after his arrest, photographs of Gnanasekaran with functionaries of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) surfaced, leading to a political controversy. While the DMK initially denied any affiliation, opposition parties circulated images claiming he held a position in the party. BJP state chief K Annamalai alleged that Gnanasekaran was a DMK student wing office-bearer and posted photos of the accused with DMK leaders.
Tamil Nadu Law Minister S Regupathi refuted the claims, stating that Gnanasekaran was not a party office-bearer. Chief Minister MK Stalin, in the Assembly, too clarified that while the accused was not a DMK member, he was indeed a sympathiser.
“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,”
-Stalin said.
Gnanasekaran had earlier filed a petition seeking release from the case, claiming there was no evidence against him and that his arrest was based on suspicion. Tamil Nadu Police filed a counterpetition, and arguments from both sides were placed before the court.
As per the Madras High Court’s direction, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the case. The SIT later filed a chargesheet in the Mahila Court.
He has now sought leniency in punishment, citing his mother’s poor health.
The court will pronounce the quantum of punishment on June 2.
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